One of the most powerful aspects of being in a school community like ours is that we come from different backgrounds and speak different languages, yet work and learn together every day with shared goals. Language is something we often think of as just a subject in the timetable, but in reality, it is so much more.
Language carries meaning. It holds culture, memory, emotion, and identity. It’s the first thing we learn as children, the medium through which we express our fears, our ambitions, and love. It connects us to our roots, to our families, and to our communities.
As educators and school leaders, we are now at an important moment in India’s educational journey. With the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, there is a renewed push to encourage multilingualism through the three-language formula — two Indian languages and one foreign language. On paper, this seems like a wonderful idea. We all agree that children should grow up knowing their regional language, being comfortable in a national language, and having the tools to connect with the global world through English.
However, how this is implemented matters just as much as what is being proposed. A recent example from Maharashtra brought this to the forefront. There was a government decision to make Hindi compulsory as the second language until Class 5. This led to strong opposition from different political and social groups, who felt that Marathi — the language of the state — was being pushed aside. After public outcry, the decision was withdrawn and sent for further review.
This brings me to a deeper reflection, not just as a citizen, but as the CEO of this school:
What language should leadership speak?
Leadership is not just about giving orders or implementing policies. Leadership is about listening. About understanding the silent fears behind loud protests. About choosing inclusivity over convenience. About asking, “Whom will this impact?” before saying, “Let’s implement this.”
As a school, we must lead by example. We must be the place where diversity is not just celebrated on annual day, but practiced every day — through respect, fairness, and awareness.
Our classrooms must be places where:
- A child who speaks Kannada at home feels proud of it in school.
- A teacher who teaches in English also values the student who thinks in Tamil.
- A family that moved here from another state feels their language and culture are welcomed, not ignored.
True leadership speaks the language of:
- Respect – for all communities, languages, and cultures.
- Listening – not just hearing, but understanding concerns and emotions.
- Inclusion – where nobody is made to feel small or left out.
- Trust – that when decisions are made, they are made with people, not for them.
Let us not confuse uniformity with unity. Unity means standing together while being true to who we are. And language is a deep part of that truth.
Let’s make our school a place where every language is respected, and every child is heard in every sense of the word.
Warm regards,
Pavan Sudhakar Shetty
CEO, JIRSM
