Abstract: India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, home to hundreds of languages representing millennia of cultural evolution and indigenous knowledge . The New Education Policy 2020 (NEP) aims to harness and promote these diverse languages through the three-language formula (TLF). In this in-depth conversation, renowned linguist Professor Anvita Abbi reflects on over four decades of work in the field of language documentation, focusing on endangered languages such as those spoken by the Great Andamanese community . The discussion provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing linguistic diversity in India, the critical role of mother tongue-based education, and the implications of the National Education Policy 2020 for language preservation. The insights offered underline the urgent need for institutional, technological, and community-based strategies to safeguard India’s endangered languages.