Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has said that English is a powerful tool for progress and not something to be ashamed of. He emphasised that every child in India should be taught English, calling it a key to equality, confidence, and opportunity.
Mr Gandhi shared his views in a post on social media platform X, a day after Home Minister Amit Shah made comments about the English language. He wrote, “English is not a dam, it is a bridge. English is not shameful, it is empowering. English is not a chain — it is a tool to break the chains.”
He accused the BJP-RSS of trying to stop poor children from learning English because, in his words, “they don’t want them to ask questions or rise to equal status.”
Rahul Gandhi added that, in the modern world, knowing English is as important as speaking one’s mother tongue. He said that learning English can help young people land better jobs and feel more confident in themselves. At the same time, he made it clear that all Indian languages are deeply rooted in culture and knowledge and deserve to be respected. But, he added, teaching English to every child is essential if India wants to grow and compete with the rest of the world.
His comments have once again sparked a lively debate about where English fits into India’s education system and society.