Across the globe, language is far more than a means of communication—it's a vessel of identity, unity, and, sometimes, political ambition. This week, three distinct regions—India, Wales, and New Zealand—find themselves at pivotal moments in their linguistic journeys, each facing unique challenges and celebrating hard-won milestones in the quest to preserve and promote their native tongues.
In Gandhinagar, India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah marked Hindi Diwas on September 14, 2025, by inaugurating the 5th Akhil Rajbhasha Sammelan. His message? Hindi, he insisted, is not a rival to India’s many regional languages but a companion. "Hindi is not a competitor of Indian languages. Hindi is a friend of Indian languages. There is no conflict between Hindi and Indian languages," Shah declared, according to The Indian Express. He pointed to Gujarat as a shining example of linguistic coexistence, noting that although Gujarati is the state’s primary language, Hindi has flourished in education and public life, thanks in part to the efforts of figures like Dayanand Saraswati, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and K M Munshi.
But Shah’s vision extends beyond harmony. He called for Hindi to become a language of science, technology, judiciary, and policing, arguing that such a shift would deepen the connection between citizens and the state. "Hindi should not just be a language of conversation or administration. Hindi should be the language of science, technology, judiciary and the police. When these works happen in Indian languages, connection with citizens increases automatically," he said.
To support this, Shah highlighted two government initiatives: the Bahubhashi Anuvad Sarthi, a translation application, and the Hindi Shabd Sindhu, a dictionary that has grown from 51,000 to over 700,000 words. By 2029, he predicted, it would be the largest dictionary of any language in the world. Shah also advocated for a flexible approach to Hindi, encouraging the incorporation of vocabulary from other Indian languages to make it more accessible and relatable. "Those who do not change with time, they become history. And I believe our language will not become history. Our language is a history, it is the present as well as the future," Shah reflected, urging parents to converse with their children in their mother tongue to ensure linguistic continuity.
Meanwhile, in Wales, the struggle is less about harmony and more about survival. The Welsh government has set an ambitious goal: one million Welsh speakers by 2050. Central to this plan is the recruitment of nearly 400 additional Welsh-speaking teachers each year—225 for secondary schools and 153 for primary. Yet, the latest figures reveal a sobering reality. Between 2022 and 2023, 396 Welsh-speaking teachers were trained, but 395 left the profession, according to BBC News. The net gain? Almost zero.
Meirion Prys Jones, former chief executive of Bwrdd yr Iaith (the Welsh Language Board), didn’t mince words: "In terms of a million Welsh speakers it's a major stumbling block. Unless we have the teachers and the capacity, then I don't think we can see the numbers increasing." Llinos Jones, headteacher at Ysgol Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen, echoed these concerns, noting that both Welsh and English medium sectors are struggling to recruit, partly because other sectors offer greater flexibility—a compelling draw for would-be teachers.
To combat these challenges, the Welsh government has rolled out incentives such as bursaries for teacher trainees and funds the National Centre for Learning Welsh to help the education workforce develop language skills. The recently enacted Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 is intended to bolster these efforts. "We provide incentives for new teachers, funding to local authorities and fund the National Centre for Learning Welsh for the education workforce to develop their Welsh-language skills. We continue to work with the teaching profession and partners as we develop the Strategic Education Workforce Plan," a government spokesperson said. But for now, the numbers suggest that more radical solutions—or perhaps a cultural shift—may be needed to meet the 2050 target.
On the other side of the world, New Zealand is celebrating a linguistic triumph. Sunday marked the beginning of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), which this year commemorates its 50th anniversary. The week traces its roots to 1972, when a petition signed by over 30,000 people called for te reo Māori to be taught in schools. By 1975, Māori Language Day had expanded to a week-long event, blossoming into a national movement that now features bilingual broadcasts, online campaigns, and public celebrations.
Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, chief executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission), reflected on the movement’s grassroots origins and its remarkable evolution. "Māori Language Week existed before te reo was an official language. It existed before the Māori Language Commission did. That's how powerful this kaupapa is—it was built by the people," Apanui-Barr told RNZ. Today, te reo Māori is not just heard in classrooms, but sung in stadiums, spoken in workplaces, and celebrated in homes across Aotearoa.
Māori Language Commissioner Rawinia Higgins emphasized the week’s role in easing language anxiety and empowering learners. "Language anxiety is a real thing, and that is one of the bigger things that kills people from wanting to use Te Reo Māori," she explained. "Te Wiki gives people the licence to just give it a go. You never know when that might be the turning point for someone." Higgins has a bold vision for the future: "My hope is that in 50 years' time our tamariki and mokopuna are high-functioning bilinguals. Around the world, multilingualism is the norm, I want that to be our reality too."
This year’s theme, 'Ake Ake Ake'—meaning 'forever and ever'—celebrates the language’s endurance and the community’s commitment. Events include a reo parade along Wellington’s waterfront, a webinar series, the launch of Pūtahi Mahara (a digital time capsule to be opened in 2075), and a series of 50 language challenges designed to engage speakers at all levels. "It represents the endurance of our language, the ability of our language and its speakers to adapt to their conditions, and the commitment of communities around Aotearoa for te reo Māori," the Commission said.
What unites these three stories is the recognition that language is inseparable from cultural identity and national pride. Whether it’s India’s push for linguistic unity, Wales’ struggle to sustain its ancient tongue, or New Zealand’s celebration of a revitalized language, the stakes are high. The future of these languages depends not only on government policy, but on the daily choices of parents, teachers, and communities. As each region navigates its own path, one thing is clear: the survival and flourishing of a language is, ultimately, a testament to the love and effort of its people.