Politics

Tamil Nadu vs Centre: Language war intensifies over NEP’s three-language policy

With both sides holding firm, the standoff is likely to intensify as the state prepares for upcoming elections, positioning language rights as a key electoral issue

PGurus Newsdesk

February 21, 2025

With both sides holding firm, the standoff is likely to intensify as the state prepares for upcoming elections, positioning language rights as a key electoral issue

“No question of imposing language”: Education Minister in Hindi row

The ongoing language dispute between Tamil Nadu and the Central government escalated further as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan responded to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s objections to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly its three-language formula.

In a letter to Mr. Stalin, Mr. Pradhan emphasized that the NEP does not impose any language but aims to reduce “over-reliance on foreign languages” while promoting linguistic diversity. “The NEP upholds linguistic freedom and ensures that students continue to learn in the language of their choice,” Mr. Pradhan stated.

Highly inappropriate for a State to view NEP 2020 with a myopic vision and use threats to sustain political narratives.
Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji’s govt. is fully committed to promote and popularise the eternal Tamil culture and language globally. I humbly appeal to not… pic.twitter.com/aw06cVCyAP
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 21, 2025

He criticized the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for its “continued opposition to NEP 2020 for political reasons” and accused the party of “spinning progressive reforms into threats to sustain political narratives.” Mr. Pradhan also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement from May 2022, where he described Tamil as an “eternal language” and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting Tamil culture globally.

Standoff over language policy

The letter follows Chief Minister Stalin’s recent appeal to Prime Minister Modi, urging the release of Rs.2,154 crore in education sector funds for the fiscal year 2024-25. Stalin accused Mr. Pradhan of attempting to “blackmail” Tamil Nadu into accepting the three-language policy by withholding central funds. He reiterated that the state would continue with its two-language policy—teaching Tamil and English—that has been in place since 1967.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, also weighed in, declaring that Tamil Nadu is prepared for another “language war” if the Central government attempts to impose Hindi. “This is the land of Periyar. The last time you tried to take away the rights of Tamil people, they said ‘Go Back, Modi.’ If you try again, this time it will be ‘Get Out Modi,’” he warned.

Historical context of language protests

Tamil Nadu has long resisted attempts to impose Hindi, with language riots occurring in the 1930s and 1960s. The state’s two-language policy, which prioritizes Tamil and English, is credited with helping students excel in fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while maintaining their cultural roots.

State Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi defended the current system, arguing that Tamil and English are sufficient for both local identity and global opportunities. He dismissed the need for a third language, particularly Hindi, stating that the state has already produced high achievers without it.

NEP 2020’s three-language formula

The NEP 2020 recommends that schools offer three languages, with at least two of them being native to India. While Hindi is not explicitly mandatory, the policy has been perceived as promoting its inclusion, fueling fears of cultural assimilation in non-Hindi-speaking states.

BJP’s push for three-language policy

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its campaign for the three-language policy in Tamil Nadu, ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The party, which has struggled to gain electoral traction in the state, will launch a campaign on March 1 advocating for the benefits of learning additional languages.

BJP state president K Annamalai criticized the DMK’s resistance, calling the two-language policy “outdated” and unsuitable for a rapidly developing world. “Why impose a policy from the 1960s on the children of Tamil Nadu when the world is advancing?” he questioned.

Conclusion

The language dispute highlights a broader cultural and political divide between Tamil Nadu and the Central government. While the Centre views the NEP as a progressive step toward linguistic diversity, Tamil Nadu sees it as an infringement on its cultural identity. With both sides holding firm, the standoff is likely to intensify as the state prepares for upcoming elections, positioning language rights as a key electoral issue.

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