Bhubaneswar, Nov 29: At the 3rd SOA Literary Festival, renowned poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar emphasized the critical role of the mother tongue alongside learning English. He cautioned that parents who fail to teach their children either English or their native language are making a serious mistake. “Nothing is greater than the mother tongue. While learning English is important, children must also connect with their own language. Children are naturally adept at learning multiple languages, whereas adults tire easily,” he said.

Akhtar further highlighted a worrying trend over the past 40–45 years, noting that many people no longer give due importance to their mother tongue. “If a person cannot speak Odia, Hindi, Gujarati, or Marathi correctly, it reflects on their upbringing and education, which is a matter of concern. Sadly, many feel ashamed to speak their mother tongue, and that mindset needs to change,” he added.