Republic Day and the Courage to Speak

On 26th January, India didn’t choose English.

India chose self-governance.

A republic is not built by fluency.

It is built by citizens who can think, speak, question, and participate — in any language.

This is where we need to be honest.

Many Indians struggle not because they lack knowledge, but because they lack confidence to express themselves.

They hesitate to speak in class.

They hesitate to ask questions.

They hesitate to disagree.

They hesitate to take space.

This hesitation is not cultural weakness.

It is learned behaviour.

From a young age, we are taught to:

• listen quietly
• not interrupt
• not question elders
• not “talk too much”

Over time, silence becomes discipline.

And discipline slowly replaces confidence.

So when people say,

“I’m an introvert,”

often what they really mean is,

“I was never encouraged to speak.”

This has nothing to do with English, Hindi, or any language.

It is about voice.

In a true republic, citizens should be able to:

• explain what they think
• question what they don’t understand
• express disagreement respectfully
• participate in society with dignity

When confidence is missing, democracy becomes symbolic — not lived.

The hopeful part?

We are living in a moment where confidence can be re-learned.

Not through slogans.

Not through speeches.

But through practice.

Tools like AI matter here — not as teachers, not as replacements — but as safe spaces to practise expression.

To think out loud.

To organise thoughts.

To speak without fear of judgment.

That practice builds confidence — regardless of language.

This Republic Day, the real question is not:

“Which language do you speak?”

The real question is:

“Do you believe your voice matters?”

Because a strong Republic doesn’t need perfect English.

It needs confident citizens.

Citizens who can speak — in any language — with clarity, courage, and dignity.

Happy Republic Day 🇮🇳