Open Forum 

New Delhi, 26 March 2025 

Imposition of Hindi

DMK EYES POLITICAL GAINS?

By Dhurjati Mukherjee 

The imposition of Hindi through the three-language formula in the southern states has sparked off a debate with Tamil Nadu leading the protest due to withholding of central funds. The protest is quite justified as these States are quite different from what we understand as Hindi culture. India is a diverse country and to protect the federal structure, different languages and cultures have to be given their due importance and place. 

Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Hindi is also consistent with the spirit of the Constitution. One may mention here that till 1976 education was a state subject and only after the Emergency it was shifted to the Concurrent List. Experts have called this an arbitrary act which is now being invoked by the Union government, threatening to withdraw funds to the state unless it followed the diktats of the Centre of teaching Hindi as a third subject. 

But the language row must also be looked at in the backdrop of the State Assembly due next year. The ruling DMK has the anti-incumbency factor against it and perhaps whipping  up emotions against Hindi may help woo the electorate. The BJP at the centre and staate is at the same time going all out to explain that it’s not imposing any language and does want to make a dent and an credible entry. The row is going to hot up this season undeniably.    

For about half a century from 1965 till 2014, the Union government did not promote Hindi in the non-Hindi speaking states and this was, no doubt, a judicious decision. It now looks strange that the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagat, has been asking Hindus to shun English, which is an established link language in the country. This can only be said to be narrow-minded and parochial at a time when India is advancing in the global arena. One cannot deny the fact that English is recognised as the language of professional advancement and a window to the developed Western world. 

Not just Tamil Nadu but southern states like Karnataka, Kerala and even others take pride in their local languages and are receptive to suggestions that the North is imposing itself further. Tamil Nadu has been following a two-language policy – Tamil and English – rooted in the state’s Dravidian ethos and its historical resistance to Hindi dates back to the anti-Hindi agitation of the 1960s. While BJP is enthusiastic about Hindi, it very well realises it cannot endear itself to the local population in the south by reinforcing its image as the party of North India. It is a key player in politics in Karnataka, increasingly strong in Telangana and is pushing hard to make its presence felt in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. 

Detailing the impact of National Education Policy, TN Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stated that the policy weakened social justice policies. “It denies scholarships that are currently being provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs. It introduces public exams in Classes 3, 5 and 8 to filter out students. It proposes semester exams from Classes 9 to 12, making it similar to the national level entrance exam. Students will not be able to join the college of their choice after Class 12”, he pointed out. According to Stalin, the policy allows students who do not want to continue their studies after Class 10 to drop out. Isn’t this the same as forcing them out of education?” he asked. 

It may be recalled that when the three-language formula was introduced in 1968, Tamil Nadu rejected it, viewing it as an imposition of Hindi. Under Chief Minister, C.N. Annadurai, the state adopted a two-language formula which has been continuing. The state’s refusal to implement the three-language formula, as mandated in the NEP, resulted in the Centre withholding the release of Rs 573 crore central assistance for education under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. 

It has to be admitted that the southern states are way ahead of their northern counterparts in matters of social and cultural matters as also economic development. Whether the literacy rate or educational levels, cultural development or even industrial progress, the southern states are way ahead. Most scientists and technologists and even doctors are found in the South. The northern states cannot compete with them in any way. 

Though the BJP has been trying to impose Hindi in the country, obviously because it feels that by promoting the language it would further the cause of Hinduism, a few days back, the RSS joint general secretary, C.R. Mukunda backed the three-language formula without Hindi. According to his formula, it would include learning of the mother tongue, regional language and English without any reference to Hindi. It was a timely observation, obviously aimed to counter the DMK’s Hindi imposition allegation at the saffron brigade.  There are reports that the ruling dispensation, specially the RSS has been trying to shed its image as a band of Hindi zealots and talking of geographical mobility and needs of modern-day life.  

This indeed may be the correct approach as it is necessary to honour the progress and development of the southern states.  They have shown the way in not just promoting education for girls but spreading higher education in the rural areas of the country. Comparable data paints a poor picture even of school education between the southern states far ahead than their northern counterparts, specially the drop-out rates being far less in the former states. 

One cannot deny the fact that English is recognised as the language of professional advancement and a window to the developed Western world. As India moves ahead, there will be a need to give more emphasis on English which is the dominant language in the world. Thus, keeping in view this fact, it would be advisable if the Centre takes a judicious decision in the matter and resolves the current stand-off with the Tamil Nadu government and the other southern states amicably so as not disturb the culture and traditional values of the South. This would politically be of help to the ruling party and keep the federal spirit intact. 

Finally, it would be better if the Centre gives proper emphasis to developing school education in the states with plans to have at least one Kendriya Vidyalaya or such type of schools in each district to spread quality education among the masses. This will go a long way in upgrading educational standards, which is the need of the day.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)