Shri Amit Shah Unveiled ₹75 Coin at Rajbhasha Sammelan

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, unveiled the ₹75 commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark the 'Diamond Jubilee Year of Official Language' during the inaugural session of the Fourth Akhil Bhartiya Rajbhasha Sammelan today, September 14, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Shri Nityanand Rai, Minister of State, along with Smt. Anshuli Arya, Secretary of the Department of Official Language, and Dr. Minakshi Jolly, IAS, Joint Secretary of the Department of Official Language, were among the distinguished attendees who graced this significant occasion.

Shri Amit Shah emphasized that there is no competition between Hindi and local languages, stating that Hindi is a friend to all regional languages. He noted that Hindi and local languages complement each other, and this relationship will be further strengthened through the Indian Languages Section. The Home Minister explained that any article, speech, or letter in Hindi would be translated into all Indian languages through this initiative, and vice versa. This, he said, is the need of the hour to foster unity and understanding across linguistic lines.

He also highlighted the importance of language in preserving national identity, stating that those who do not embrace Swaraj (self-rule), Swadharma (self-duty), and Swabhasha (one’s own language) risk passing on a mentality of subjugation to future generations. He pointed out that a nation's language is vital to connecting with its history, literature, and culture. Shri Shah emphasized that even after 75 years of independence, the country must focus on principles like those of Shivaji Maharaj to truly embrace linguistic and cultural sovereignty. He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on imparting primary education in mother tongues as part of the new education policy, stressing that a child learns best in their native language.

Shri Amit Shah also highlighted Hindi’s significant role in the freedom movement, noting that one of the main reasons for the failure of the 1857 revolution was the lack of a unifying language. He reiterated that India is a geo-cultural nation, where the unity of the country is deeply tied to its languages. He warned that losing our languages would endanger national unity. 

He further mentioned that many of the prominent leaders who promoted Hindi, such as Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, C. Rajagopalachari, Mahatma Gandhi, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, hailed from non-Hindi speaking areas. These leaders recognized Hindi as a tool for national unity and supported it as the official language.

Shri Shah concluded by stating that the preservation of languages rests in the hands of mothers and urged parents to converse with their children in their mother tongues. He expressed confidence that India's languages will continue to thrive and serve both the nation and the world. He declared that the era of the official language and Indian languages has arrived, and the nation will no longer be subjugated, especially by language.

This release marks the 14th commemorative coin for the year 2024, minted by the India Government Mint, Kolkata. Stay tuned for upcoming booking details and updates on the India Government Mint's website.