The debate surrounding the Centre’s decision to push for Hindi as the national language has reached a fever pitch in Tamil Nadu, with political leaders accusing the Centre of overstepping its bounds. Tamil Nadu’s vehement opposition to the move has highlighted the growing divide between the Centre’s vision of a unified India and the state’s demand for linguistic autonomy.
The Centre argues that Hindi should be taught across India to promote national cohesion, suggesting that it is a unifying factor in a nation as diverse as India. However, Tamil Nadu feels that this move ignores the principle of federalism and the importance of preserving the unique linguistic diversity that characterizes the nation. Opposition leaders have charged the Centre with being “arrogant” and “insensitive” to regional concerns, claiming that the government is pushing a one-size-fits-all policy on a country with such diverse linguistic and cultural traditions.
The backlash in Tamil Nadu has been intense, with protests erupting across the state. The opposition parties in Tamil Nadu are firm in their belief that students should not be compelled to study Hindi and that the focus should be on enhancing the proficiency of students in their native languages and global languages like English.
