Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that there was “no element more powerful” than the Hindi language to unify Indians, PTI reported. “Language can help in good governance because information and knowledge can create an enlightened citizenry,” Naidu said at the 16th annual convocation of the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha in Hyderabad.

“Hindi has played a historic role in the development of India’s unity, integrity and linguistic goodwill,” Naidu added. He said that it was heartening that the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha had not just promoted Hindi, but also trained many Hindi teachers, translators and publicists.

Naidu also told the audience that Mahatma Gandhi had once said that no country is truly independent until it speaks in its own language. Apart from Naidu, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali was present at the event.