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The Wire
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Five Reasons Why Amit Shah's Threat of English Speakers Being 'Ashamed' is Dangerous
Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that 'time is not far away for a society where people speaking in English in this country feel ashamed' has sparked a major controversy, after Asian News International and other media houses deleted their media reports and social media updates about the speech. While such statements have appeared before in Indian politics, Shah's position as the de facto 'number two' leader in the ruling BJP and as the union home minister lends extra weight to his words. With the dark shadow of Hindutva's longstanding ideological 'Hindi-Hindu-Hindusthan' slogan, Shah's comment is not just a cultural observation. It carries deep political and global implications, touching on issues of national identity, social mobility, intellectualism and India's international image. Here are five reasons why Shah's statement is significant. Fuels linguistic chauvinism and division India's strength lies in its linguistic diversity. There is no one national language, but 22 of them. By framing English as a foreign imposition and linking it to shame, Shah's statement fans the flames of linguistic chauvinism. This is especially dangerous in a country where language has often been a flashpoint for regional and communal tensions. English often serves as a neutral bridge language in India, especially in higher education, business, and inter-state communication. Non-Hindi speaking states, especially those in the South, East and the Northeast, are likely to see Shah's statement as yet another attempt by the Hindutva regime to impose a narrow, Hindi-centric identity on the entire country, further deepening regional divides and resentment. Colonial legacy as an excuse for furthering Hindutva Shah's statement aligns with the BJP's long-standing agenda of promoting Hindi as being central to the Indian identity. By framing English as a symbol of colonial legacy and 'shame,' he appeals to nationalist sentiments and consolidates the party's core base. His rhetoric helps create the narrative that true patriotism is tied to embracing Indian languages, a euphemism for Hindi in the BJP's view. While there is merit in shedding colonial hangovers, English has evolved into a global lingua franca and a practical tool for international engagement. Shah's framing of English as a source of 'shame' risks using a sensitive issue for ideological and political gains. It can polarise public opinion and distract from the much-needed debate about the quality of public education, as exemplified by the rewriting of textbooks in the BJP ruled states. Threatens India's global competitiveness India's rise as an Information Technology and services powerhouse is built on its large pool of English-speaking talent. This linguistic advantage has been an envy of a country like China. Casting English in a negative light sends a regressive message to the world and risks undermining India's attractiveness to global investors, multinational companies and academic collaborators. It will discourage young Indians from acquiring the very skills that make them globally competitive, damaging the country's future economic prospects. Shah's statement, if seen as official policy of the Hindutva regime, will create concerns about India's openness and modernity, and affect India's image as a cosmopolitan, globally connected nation. Impact on social mobility and education English in India is often seen as a gateway to better education, jobs, and upward mobility. By stigmatising English, Shah's statement risks alienating millions who aspire to learn the language for practical reasons. It could also influence policy decisions on language in education, potentially restricting access to global opportunities for students from non-elite backgrounds. This could deepen social divides between urban and rural populations, and between those with and without access to English medium education. Encourages anti-intellectualism and cultural backwardness Equating English proficiency with cultural shame is a form of anti-intellectualism from Shah. It delegitimises those who are comfortable in English, often the best-educated and most globally connected Indians, and suggests that cosmopolitanism is un-Indian. This closes minds, discourages openness and promotes a parochial, inward-looking mindset at a time when India needs to engage with the world, not retreat from it. To sum up, Shah's statement is not just divisive; it is dangerous. It threatens social mobility, sows linguistic discord, risks India's global standing, fosters anti-intellectualism and distracts from the real challenges facing the country. Shah's ideological rhetoric of 'shame' is out of place, and is actively harmful to the country.
Fashion Network
3 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Swiss brand Cellcosmet plans India market entry
Swiss cosmetics and skincare brand Cellcosmet is exploring entering the Indian market to reach shoppers across the country. The business is currently in discussions concerning distribution opportunities. Cellcosmet's CEO Tancrede Amacker met with Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal while Goyal was on a recent trip to Switzerland, ET Retail reported. The business is keen to enter India as the country's beauty industry continues to grow. "It was a wonderful meeting," Amacker told Asian News International. "We do high-end cosmetics, we sell high-end skincare made in Switzerland, and the idea is how could we enter India. It's a wonderful country in terms of size and the population is humongous... we have the pleasure to servie the Indian customers in Singapore, in London, or in Switzerland, but not yet in India, and it's time for us to enter." Cellcosmet is open to collaborating with Indian beauty giant Nykaa, Amacker told Goyal during their meeting. "That's a wonderful platform that we are very interested in," said Amacker. Cellcosmet is based in Châtel-Saint-Denis in Switzerland and specialises in cellular cosmetics and microbiome science, according to its Facebook page. The brand retails its premium products from its direct to customer e-commerce store.
Fashion Network
3 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Swiss brand Cellcosmet plans India market entry
Swiss cosmetics and skincare brand Cellcosmet is exploring entering the Indian market to reach shoppers across the country. The business is currently in discussions concerning distribution opportunities. Cellcosmet's CEO Tancrede Amacker met with Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal while Goyal was on a recent trip to Switzerland, ET Retail reported. The business is keen to enter India as the country's beauty industry continues to grow. "It was a wonderful meeting," Amacker told Asian News International. "We do high-end cosmetics, we sell high-end skincare made in Switzerland, and the idea is how could we enter India. It's a wonderful country in terms of size and the population is humongous... we have the pleasure to servie the Indian customers in Singapore, in London, or in Switzerland, but not yet in India, and it's time for us to enter." Cellcosmet is open to collaborating with Indian beauty giant Nykaa, Amacker told Goyal during their meeting. "That's a wonderful platform that we are very interested in," said Amacker. Cellcosmet is based in Châtel-Saint-Denis in Switzerland and specialises in cellular cosmetics and microbiome science, according to its Facebook page. The brand retails its premium products from its direct to customer e-commerce store.
News18
30-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Delhi HC Orders YouTuber Mohak Mangal To Take Down Defamatory Content Against ANI
Last Updated: Mangal, uploaded a video titled 'Dear ANI' suggesting that ANI's copyright enforcement and licensing fee requirements on YouTube were akin to extortion. The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered YouTuber Mohak Mangal to remove objectionable content from his video accusing the news agency Asian News International (ANI) of extortion and blackmail. The court's decision was in response to ANI's defamation suit, which alleged the video spread falsehoods, damaging its reputation. Mangal, who has around 4.21 million subscribers, uploaded a video titled 'Dear ANI', suggesting that ANI's copyright enforcement and licensing fee requirements on YouTube amounted to extortion. Justice Amit Bansal stated that Mangal should have expressed his opinion more civilly. ''Hafta wasooli', 'gunda raaj'… You will take this down… Do it today. Whoever is using this kind of language, please follow instructions." Senior advocate Amit Sibal and advocate Sidhant Kumar, representing ANI, argued before the court that the content was both defamatory and inflammatory. 'He started a media campaign against me (ANI) that spiralled into a concerted campaign which is nothing short of vilifying and, per se, defamatory. They are calling me a thug, extortionist, gunda," Sibal said. 'If they have a grievance against me, they can't call me and extort money… that I will block your channel if you don't pay," Lall said. First Published: May 30, 2025, 08:07 IST
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Delhi High Court Orders YouTuber Mohak Mangal to Remove Defamatory Video Against ANI, ET LegalWorld
The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed YouTuber Mohak Mangal to remove objectionable portions from his video where he had accused a news wire agency of "extortion". A single-judge bench of Justice Amit Bansal was dealing with a defamation suit filed by wire agency Asian News International (ANI) against Mangal's YouTube video titled "Dear ANI". In his video, the popular YouTube content creator, having around 4.21 million subscribers, alleged that the news wire agency was committing "extortion" and "blackmail" in the guise of seeking to enforce its copyright over its content. In its defamation suit filed before the Delhi High Court, the wire agency stated that the video deliberately spread falsehoods with the intent to target and malign its public image. Advt "I offered a license. They could have rejected my offer, but to put pressure on me, defamatory material is put by them. This is in retaliation to my offer," said senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing on the plaintiff's behalf."He (Mohak Mangal) starts a media campaign against me that has spiralled into a concerted campaign which is nothing short of vilifying and, per se, defamatory. They are calling me (ANI) thugs, extortionists, gunda, and other expletives," he the course of the hearing, Alt-news co-founder Mohammed Zubair, who was arrayed as a co-defendant in the defamation suit for amplifying Mangal's post on social media platform X, also agreed to take down his online the Delhi High Court ordered stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, another co-defendant, to delete his first tweet of the several posted on X. Kamra's counsel contended that his social media posts were covered under the right to free speech and he was commenting on a matter of larger public interest. However, the Justice Bansal-led Bench opined that such language was not palatable to the court and calling someone "thugs" and "mafia" was matter is listed for further hearing in July. Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETLegalWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App
