Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has highlighted that India is the only country in the world where 11 languages are recognized as classical languages. He said this while chairing the 32nd meeting of the Kendriya Hindi Samiti in New Delhi today. The ‘Kendriya Hindi Samiti’ is the highest body that provides guidelines for the development and promotion of the Hindi language.

Mr Shah emphasized the need to undertake two major initiatives to strengthen Hindi. The first is to develop a long-term policy for the enhancement, preservation, and longevity of Hindi literature and its various grammatical forms. The Home Minister stated that, alongside this, it is also necessary to translate all modern education curricula into Hindi and all other Indian languages. He also stressed making Hindi universally accepted and flexible.

Highlighting that five more Indian languages were recently granted classical language status, Mr Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken several initiatives for the preservation, promotion, and extensive use of Indian languages. He stated that these efforts have made the period from 2014 to 2024 an era dedicated to the protection and promotion of Indian languages.

The meeting was attended by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Dr L. Murugan among others.