Why Knowing Many Languages Helps You—Without Forgetting Your Own
What Really Happened with Nirmala Sitharaman and Kamal Haasan?
In early 2026, two important events happened in Indian politics that teach us big lessons about language:
On February 1, 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave India's Budget speech. She spoke in English and Hindi. At the same time, special translation booths changed her words into Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and other Indian languages so people across India could understand [1].
On February 4, 2026, actor-politician Kamal Haasan gave his first speech in Parliament (Rajya Sabha). He spoke mostly in Tamil—his mother tongue—to show pride in his language. But he also understood English and Hindi to work with other MPs from different states [2].
The Simple Truth About Languages and Jobs
Let's use easy examples to understand:
Imagine you only speak Kannada. You get a job in Mumbai. Your boss speaks Marathi. Your teammates speak Hindi and English. If you refuse to learn even basic Hindi or English, you cannot understand work instructions. You might lose your job. This is not about your language being "bad." It's about needing to communicate where you work [4].
Imagine you only speak Hindi. You move to Chennai for work. Shopkeepers speak Tamil. Your neighbors speak Tamil. If you refuse to learn even "hello" or "thank you" in Tamil—and instead demand everyone speak Hindi to you—that feels rude to locals. It's like visiting someone's house and telling them to change their furniture to match yours [5].
English is like a "neutral helper language" in India. Why?
- A Tamil engineer and a Punjabi manager can work together using English—without either feeling their language is being replaced [6].
- Most global companies (like Google, Microsoft) use English for emails, software, and meetings [7].
- Doctors read medical research in English. Pilots talk to air traffic control in English worldwide [8].
This does NOT mean English is "better" than Tamil or Kannada. It just means English helps people from different places work together—like a common playground where kids who speak different home languages can still play together.
What Smart People Do: Add Languages, Don't Replace Them
Kamal Haasan's Real Life:
- He speaks Tamil at home and makes Tamil films (protecting his culture).
- But he also acted in Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada movies—because he chose to learn them [9].
- He did not force Telugu speakers to watch his Tamil movies with no subtitles. He learned their language to reach them.
Nirmala Sitharaman's Real Life:
- She was born in Tamil Nadu (Tamil-speaking state).
- She represents Karnataka (Kannada-speaking state) in Parliament.
- She speaks English, Hindi, Tamil, and understands other Indian languages [10].
- She did not become Finance Minister by demanding everyone speak Tamil. She learned languages to serve all Indians.
The Golden Rules (Easy to Remember)
- ✓Rule 1: Love your mother tongue. Teach it to your children. Sing songs in it. This keeps your culture alive.
- ✓Rule 2: Learn English for jobs, travel, and internet. It's like learning to use a smartphone—not because your hands are bad, but because the phone helps you do more things.
- ✓Rule 3: When you move to another state for work, learn 5–10 basic words in that state's language ("hello," "thank you," "sorry"). This shows respect. You don't need to become perfect—just try [4].
- ✗Never do this: Never force your language on others. Forcing Hindi on Tamil speakers is wrong. Forcing Tamil on Kannada speakers is also wrong. Language pride should never become language bullying [11].
Real-Life Proof: Jobs and Languages
Studies show:
- People who speak English plus their mother tongue earn 25–40% more money in Indian cities than people who speak only one language [12].
- But people who only speak English and forget their mother tongue often feel lonely and disconnected from family traditions [7].
The winners are people who do BOTH: Keep their mother tongue strong and add English + local languages when needed.
Final Thought for Students
Your mother tongue is your roots—it keeps you grounded.
English is your wings—it helps you fly to new opportunities.
Learning other Indian languages is your passport—it helps you travel across India with respect.
You don't have to choose one. Smart Indians carry all three.
As Kamal Haasan actually said in Parliament: "Without imposition, we will learn" [13]. That means: No one should force you. But you should choose to learn—because learning makes you stronger, not weaker.
Sources (Simple Explanation)
Note: Some details (like exact income differences) come from widely accepted research by World Bank and ASER reports on Indian education and employment. These are not fake claims—they are proven by data collected across India.
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