Why in news?
Discussions in July 2025 about language policy brought fresh attention to the way languages shape personal and group identities. In one debate a school board considered whether students should be allowed to choose a foreign language instead of a regional Indian language. In another case a diaspora association in North America was criticised for insisting on the use of a single Indian language at social events. These incidents emphasised that language policies influence social harmony and national integration.
Background and history
Languages develop and change because of geography, migration, trade and the influence of the social elite. India, with its mountains, rivers and plains, has naturally protected regions where languages evolved separately. Over centuries people migrating through the subcontinent carried their tongues into new regions. The languages spoken by royal courts and religious institutions gained prestige, while dialects spoken by labourers and women were often marginalised. India today recognises 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and hundreds of mother‑tongues, each tied closely to community identity.
How language links and divides people
- Bonding within communities: A shared language builds trust and allows people to pass on stories, customs and values. It is the basis for a shared culture.
- Access to economic and political power: Proficiency in the language of administration or business opens doors to employment and public life. Lack of fluency may trap people in low‑paid jobs.
- Creating class bubbles: When social elites use a prestigious language and ignore vernaculars they create invisible barriers. Speakers of regional languages may feel excluded from urban circles.
- Guarding group identities: Minority communities often cling to their language to prevent assimilation. Conversely the dominance of one language can cause resentment among speakers of other tongues.
Significance and way forward
Language is both a tool of empowerment and a potential source of division. A fair policy should allow people to learn languages of wider communication without undermining mother‑tongues. Schools can offer options to study local, national and international languages so that students gain skills while maintaining cultural roots. Government offices and courts should provide translation services so that citizens can participate fully. By recognising the dignity of all languages and encouraging multilingualism India can turn its linguistic diversity into strength.