MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu spoke of regional languages that were suffocated by the imposition of Hindi, especially through the National Education Policy (NEP), hence leaving other regional languages “gasping for survival.”
To reiterate, “My dear sisters and brothers from other states, ever wondered how many Indian languages Hindi has swallowed? Bhojpuri, Maithili, Awadhi, Braj, Bundeli, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Magahi, Marwari, Malvi, Chhattisgarhi, Santhali, Angika, Ho, Kharia, Khortha, Kurmali, Kurukh, Mundari, and many more are now gasping for survival.”
Linguistic diversity was believed to be suppressed by the redirection towards the absorption of Hindi, accusing the centre of pushing for a “monolithic Hindi identity.” MK Stalin’s remarks were made while the ruling party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was strictly against the centre’s three language policy. The DMK is known to have opposed and resisted the imposition of Hindi, historically.
MK Stalin made it clear that the state was prepared for another language war. In a letter to DMK cadres, MK Stalin wrote, “This is a continuous struggle, a rightful fight against cultural onslaught and a battle to protect Mother Tamil from a hegemonic language.”
The Economic Times relayed BJP’s assertion that in accordance with the NEP, the third language could be a foreign language, MK Stalin responded with the claim that the three-language policy was only promoting Sanskrit in the states. However, the NEP (2020) only gives special emphasis to Sanskrit but maintains that it is an optional choice in the three-language formula.
He further said, "If Tamil Nadu accepts the trilingual policy, the mother language will be ignored and there will be Sankritisation in the future.”
MK Stalin has urged the state to participate in the language war. “We were pioneers of the language battle, setting the course for the entire nation.” The Governor of Tamil Nadu RN Ravi stood by the centre in agreement of the necessity and demand for the NEP (2020) and that although Tamil Nadu has strictly enforced the two-language policy, the choice of language is required amongst the youth.
The problem of delimitation was called for discussion by MK Stalin, and thus, he has invited 40 registered political parties to take part at the Secretariat on 5th March. He had spoken about the impact of reducing Tamil Nadu’s Lok Sabha Constituencies from 39 to 31, which would wither the state’s sway in Parliament. "It is not just about numbers... it is about our rights. I invite all parties to discuss NEET, the three-language policy, and allocation of funds from the centre."
The centre has resorted to holding onto the funds for the Samagra Shiksha scheme in Tamil Nadu. The state’s refusal to abide by and implement the NEP (2020) has led the centre to withhold due allocated funds.
The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has denied these allegations regarding the centre’s intentions with the NEP; he went on to say that the formula for three languages allows the state government to pick three languages of their choice for their education policy.
DMK has been called out for their piousness, as they adhere to the three language formula in many schools overseen by politicians of the DMK party in Tamil Nadu, while government schools are confined to the alternative language formulas and education policies which deny students of government schools from receiving the same opportunities.