Tamil Nadu parties protest against imposition of Hindi

Parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK Saturday strongly opposed the three language formula's continuation with add-on features proposed in the draft National Education Policy alleging it was tantamount to "thrusting" Hindi and wanted it junked.

Kamal Haasan. Photo: PTI

CHENNAI: Parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK Saturday strongly opposed the three language formula's continuation with add-on features proposed in the draft National Education Policy alleging it was tantamount to "thrusting" Hindi and wanted it junked. The Tamil Nadu government said it would continue with the two-language formula, seeking to cool frayed tempers. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in a series of tweets in Tamil said: "what is the meaning of three language formula in schools? The meaning is they will make Hindi a compulsory subject..." In another tweet, he said "If Hindi language is a compulsory subject its import is imposition of Hindi." "The BJP government's real face is beginning to emerge..." he also tweeted.

பள்ளிகளில் மும்மொழித் திட்டம் என்றால் என்ன அர்த்தம்? இந்தி மொழியைக் கட்டாயப் பாடமாக்குவார்கள் என்று பொருள்

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 1, 2019

Meanwhile, "#StopHindiImposition, #TNAgainstHindiImposition trended on the microblogging site Twitter. The three language formula which bats for Hindi from "pre-school to class 12 was a big shocker," and the recommendation would "divide" the country, DMK chief M K Stalin said. The draft policy prepared by a panel led by eminent scientist K Kasturirangan was unveiled on Friday. Recalling the anti-Hindi agitations beginning as early as 1937 in Tamil Nadu, the DMK leader in a statement here said since 1968 the State was following the two-language formula of learning only Tamil and English. The DMK would never tolerate imposition of Hindi and strongly oppose it. "Still, I believe that the Central BJP government will not make way for another language stir," he said. The Dravidian party also said recommendations like "Gurukula" mode of education, teaching Sanskrit and sending Hindi teachers from Hindi speaking States to non-Hindi speaking States would in due course cause a "big danger" to non-Hindi speaking people. The recommendations, the DMK said rather than lifting the standards of education has led to doubts that it had "ulterior motives" like imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking States and thrusting Sanskrit in schools. Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan said "be it language or a project, if we do not like that, it should not be forced on us." He said his party would pursue legal options against it. S. Ramadoss, founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), said Hindi should not be imposed in Tamil Nadu. Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan told Puthiya Thalaimurai Tamil news channel: "There will be no deviation from the two-language formula followed in Tamil Nadu. Only Tamil and English will continue to be taught in our State." The Kasturirangan Committee has recommended teaching of Hindi, English and one regional language in the non-Hindi states. For Hindi-speaking states, the committee has recommended teaching of Hindi, English and one of the modern Indian languages from other parts of the country. However, it has not specified what would be the modern Indian language. Tamil has been accorded the classical language status by the central government.  Govt. dismisses fears of Hindi imposition However, the Centre on Saturday dismissed apprehensions over the three language formula in the wake of the draft new education policy and said there was no move to impose any language on anyone. "Only a report has been submitted on the new education policy. Government has not taken any decision on it. It has not even considered it and therefore the misunderstanding that the government has decided on the new education policy is not true." "After we will get the public feedback, then only it will come up before the government. More importantly, the Modi government has always promoted all Indian languages and therefore there is no case of or intention of imposing any language on anybody. We want to promote all Indian languages," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told the media. "It is a draft prepared by the committee on which a decision will be taken only after we get the public feedback," he said. (With inputs from agencies)