Amit Shah on Hindi Diwas 2026: Hindi Connects India's Languages and Enabled Me to Work at the National Level

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking on Hindi Diwas 2026, said Hindi serves as an important link between India’s many languages and has enabled people from different linguistic backgrounds to communicate and work across the country. Addressing the Sixth All India Official Language Conference in Navi Mumbai on Monday, Shah said his own experience from Gujarat demonstrated how Hindi can help people operate effectively at the national level. He noted that although Gujarati is his mother tongue, his familiarity with Hindi meant he never encountered major difficulties while working beyond his home state.

Shah also stressed the importance of preserving India’s regional languages and said the government is giving greater emphasis to mother-tongue education. Referring to the National Education Policy, he said primary-level education in the mother tongue would help children remain connected to their cultural and social roots.

According to Shah, a person's understanding of family values, traditions, culture and local heritage develops more naturally through their mother tongue. He added that learning, thinking and creativity can also become more effective when people are able to express themselves in the language they understand most deeply.

Highlighting Maharashtra’s diverse linguistic landscape, Shah said Marathi deserves its due recognition while pointing out that several other languages, including Hindi, Gujarati, Konkani, Sindhi and Kannada, are also part of the state's multicultural identity. He described Maharashtra as one of India’s most multilingual states.

The Home Minister also recalled the government's 2019 decision to take the All India Official Language Conference beyond Delhi. Instead of limiting the event to the national capital, the government decided that it should be organised in different parts of the country. Shah said the Navi Mumbai gathering marked the sixth edition under this approach.

He further praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using Indian languages while addressing international audiences. Shah said hearing the country's Prime Minister speak in an Indian language at major global forums creates a sense of pride and reflects respect for India's linguistic heritage. With Hindi Diwas coinciding with Ganesh Chaturthi this year, Shah invoked Lord Ganesha, describing him as the remover of obstacles and expressing hope that Indian languages would continue to progress without hindrance.

Shah also referred to the history of Ganesh Utsav in Maharashtra, recalling Bal Gangadhar Tilak's role in popularising the public celebration in the late 19th century. He said Tilak recognised the importance of culture and history in creating social awareness and strengthening a sense of national identity. Hindi Diwas is observed every year on September 14 to commemorate the adoption of Hindi as one of India's official languages. The occasion is also used to highlight the country's linguistic diversity and the role of Indian languages in connecting communities across different regions.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.