Chennai: a longstanding dispute over language policy has intensified, with Chief Minister MK Stalin accusing the central government of attempting to impose Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP). This controversy has reignited historical tensions between Tamil Nadu and the centre, with both sides trading sharp remarks. On Thursday, Stalin claimed that the forced adoption of Hindi in other states had led to the decline of 25 native north Indian languages over the past century, a statement swiftly dismissed by the BJP as “silly.”
The friction centres around the NEP’s three-language formula, which Tamil Nadu has refused to adopt, sticking instead to its two-language policy of Tamil and English. Stalin argued that while the NEP suggests flexibility in language choice, in practice, Tamil is not offered as a subject in most schools outside Tamil Nadu. He noted that Sanskrit is prioritized in many states, and even in central government schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas, Tamil is not taught unless at least 15 students opt for it.
Stalin also pointed out that Sanskrit teachers have replaced Urdu instructors in Rajasthan schools, further fueling concerns about cultural and linguistic imposition. The Tamil Nadu government’s stance is supported by its historical opposition to Hindi imposition, which dates back to violent protests in 1967 against making Hindi the official language.
The current standoff escalated after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan threatened to withhold funds from Tamil Nadu unless it implements the NEP fully. Stalin and his son, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, have accused the centre of blackmail, warning that Tamil Nadu is prepared for another language war if necessary.
