Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has expressed his opposition to the celebration of Hindi-oriented events in non-Hindi speaking states through a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter comes ahead of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Chennai Doordarshan, which are being combined with Hindi Month Celebrations on October 18, 2024. The event will be presided over by the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
In his letter, Stalin highlighted that the Constitution of India does not accord national language status to any language with Hindi and English only being used for official purposes such as legislation, judiciary, and communication between the Union and State Governments. He argued that celebrating Hindi Month in non-Hindi speaking states like Tamil Nadu could be perceived as an attempt to diminish the importance of other languages.
Stalin suggested that if the Union Government continues to hold such events, it should equally promote the celebration of the local language month in respective states. He further proposed that the Government of India organize special events to celebrate the richness of all Classical languages recognized by the Union in their respective states to foster stronger bonds and respect among the diverse linguistic cultures of the country.
The letter emphasised the importance of nurturing India's multilingual heritage and the need to avoid giving special status to any one language, particularly in states with strong linguistic identities. Stalin’s proposal aims to ensure that linguistic diversity is celebrated across the country with equal warmth and respect.