In a move that has sparked interest and curiosity, Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded in Malayalam to a letter from Kerala Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas regarding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration concerns. The response, dated November 14, 2025, stood out not just for its content but for the unusual choice of language, given that official correspondence from the Home Minister is typically in English or Hindi.

MP John Brittas had written to Shah on October 22, 2025, expressing concerns over an August 12 notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The notification allowed for the cancellation of OCI registration based on “chargesheeting,” a provision that raised alarms among members of the Indian diaspora and legal experts. Brittas argued in his letter that a charge sheet is merely a police document with no judicial validity and that revoking OCI status without a court verdict undermines the presumption of innocence—a principle enshrined in Indian law. He urged the Home Minister to review and annul the notification to ensure fairness, due process, and constitutional safeguards.

Shah’s acknowledgment of the letter, written in Malayalam, read: “Your letter dated 22 October 2025, regarding the concerns connected with the OCI registration, has been received.” Brittas noted that while Shah had responded to him on multiple occasions before, this was the first time the reply was in Malayalam, adding that he had “never seen this before.”

The timing of the response and the language choice are significant. Kerala is headed for Assembly elections in April 2026, and the South Indian states have long debated what they perceive as “Hindi imposition.” In Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, policies promoting Hindi in education, official communication, or competitive exams have frequently drawn criticism. By replying in Malayalam, Shah’s office appears to have signaled sensitivity to regional language sentiments, especially as tensions over linguistic representation continue.

The Malayalam reply comes months after a separate controversy over Hindi in education. In April 2025, the NCERT faced backlash in Kerala after introducing Hindi titles in English-medium textbooks. Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty criticized the move, calling it an attempt to undermine linguistic diversity. The state formally requested the Centre to roll back the decision on April 19. NCERT defended its action as part of NEP 2020’s vision to promote an “Indian identity” in school curricula.

Shah has frequently addressed the issue of language balance in India. During the 5th Akhil Bhartiya Rajbhasha Sammelan on September 15, he argued that Hindi need not be in conflict with other Indian languages, describing it as a “companion” rather than a rival. He encouraged political leaders and citizens to communicate with him in their regional languages and advocated for broader use of Hindi in areas like science, law enforcement, and the judiciary.

Despite these assurances, resistance to Hindi policies remains strong in southern states. Tamil Nadu has repeatedly opposed the promotion of Hindi in central government exams and administrative procedures, citing potential disadvantages for non-Hindi speakers. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, political parties have criticized attempts to prioritize Hindi in official communications and recruitment tests.

Shah’s Malayalam response to Brittas’ letter thus holds symbolic and political significance. It underscores the Centre’s attempt to engage with regional languages while navigating sensitive issues of national identity, legal fairness, and upcoming elections. While the letter itself is a routine acknowledgment, the choice of language has drawn attention as an unusual but strategic gesture by the Union Home Ministry.

The incident also reflects ongoing concerns among the Indian diaspora regarding OCI status and procedural fairness. Legal experts have pointed out that canceling OCI registration based solely on police charges without judicial scrutiny can create uncertainty and anxiety among overseas Indians. Brittas’ appeal emphasized the need for a transparent and constitutionally sound mechanism for handling such cases, resonating with a global community of Indians who closely follow government policy changes.

In sum, the combination of legal concerns over OCI rules, regional language sensitivities, and the proximity of state elections makes Amit Shah’s Malayalam response noteworthy. It signals a nuanced approach by the Centre, blending routine bureaucratic correspondence with careful political messaging tailored to the linguistic and cultural context of Kerala.