Tamil Nadu's MK Stalin Advocates Against Hindi Imposition Amid Maharashtra Victory Rally

Stalin's Stand on Language Rights

On Saturday, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister MK Stalin emphasized that the fight against the imposition of Hindi has crossed state lines. His remarks followed a significant rally in Maharashtra led by Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and his cousin Raj Thackeray, which celebrated the state government's decision to retract its policy of introducing Hindi as a third language in primary education.

Stalin expressed on social media that the ongoing struggle for language rights, championed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Tamil Nadu populace, has now gained momentum in Maharashtra, likening it to a storm of dissent.

He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of operating in a manner that is both unlawful and chaotic, asserting that the Maharashtra government was compelled to reverse its decision due to the threat of public unrest.

The BJP is a member of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra, which also includes the faction of Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the Nationalist Congress Party under Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Stalin expressed his excitement over the rally's energy and powerful speeches, stating that it reflects a collective resistance against Hindi imposition.

He further criticized the Union government for its focus on promoting Hindi and Sanskrit, claiming it has no satisfactory answers to Raj Thackeray's inquiries regarding the teaching of a third language in schools in states like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Uddhav and Raj Thackeray had previously announced their joint rally on June 27 to protest against the Maharashtra government's proposal to teach Hindi as a third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools from Class 1 to Class 5.

However, just two days later, the state government rescinded its resolution. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also revealed that a new committee would be established to guide the implementation of the National Education Policy's three-language formula.

Stalin remarked that the uprising in Maharashtra would enlighten those unaware of the historical suppression of various Indian languages due to Hindi imposition.

Opposition to Discrimination in Funding

‘Won’t Allow Discrimination Against Tamil Nadu’

Stalin reiterated his criticism of the Union government for withholding funds from Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme for the fiscal year 2024-’25.

He stated, “We will not permit discrimination in fund distribution for Tamil Nadu.”

The Samagra Shiksha scheme, initiated in 2018, is designed to support elementary and secondary education across the country.

This initiative resulted from the merger of three previous schemes aimed at enhancing educational access and quality.

In April, the Union education ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that Tamil Nadu, along with Kerala and West Bengal, would not receive any funds under this central education scheme for the upcoming fiscal year.

Data presented in the Upper House indicated that while Kerala was allocated Rs 328.90 crore, Tamil Nadu was set to receive Rs 2,151.60 crore, and West Bengal Rs 1,745.80 crore, none of which had been disbursed as of late March.

Minister of State for Education Jayant Choudhary explained that fund allocations are based on various criteria, including educational needs.

The suspension of funding to these states coincides with their refusal to comply with the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme.

This centrally-sponsored initiative aims to enhance school infrastructure but requires state governments to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Centre to implement the 2020 National Education Policy.

The 2020 policy proposes significant changes to the educational framework, advocating for flexibility in academic choices and emphasizing the use of the mother tongue as a primary medium of instruction.

However, it has faced criticism from various academic circles for promoting the privatization of public education and creating multiple exit options for students, which some argue could lead to increased dropout rates.

Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the three-language formula outlined in the National Education Policy, maintaining its long-standing two-language policy of teaching Tamil and English.

The three-language formula, which includes English, Hindi, and the state's native language, was first introduced in the National Education Policy of 1968 and retained in the 2020 revision.