“Those who speak English will soon feel ashamed,” Home Minister Amit Shah said last month, igniting a heated debate about national identity and social mobility in the polyglot nation of 1.4 billion.

India, with its rich history, diverse culture, and complexity, is home to a multitude of languages that have evolved over millennia. These languages not only reflect the evolution of communication but ...

In some Indian languages, the word for “language” is bhasha—the vowels long and warm, as in “car” or “tar.” It has a formal weight and a refined spirit. It comes to us from the classical heights of ...

India’s language policy debate — reignited by the National Education Policy’s implementation — reveals deeper tensions between the country’s state and central governments, with southern states ...