MK Stalin Demands Fairness: A Response to BJP’s Hindi Imposition in Tamil Nadu

On Tuesday, MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, launched a focused critique of the BJP-led central government regarding the issue of Hindi imposition. The DMK leader questioned the union government’s failure to establish institutions to teach Tamil or other South Indian languages in northern Indian states.

In a letter addressed to party members as part of his ongoing series themed “perpetual opposition,” Stalin expressed that modern tools like ChatGPT could assist individuals with language barriers, and emphasized that students would benefit more by learning essential technologies rather than being burdened by a mandatory language.

The DMK chief referenced Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that mutual language learning between southern and northern states would foster national unity, mentioning that the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha was established to realize this vision.

“Gandhi actively participated in events at the sabha’s headquarters in Chennai. Currently, the sabha has grown to operate 6,000 centers across southern states,” stated Stalin.

Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabhas

In a post on X, Stalin pointed out that while ‘Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabhas’ were created to promote Hindi in southern states, no ‘Uttar Bharat Tamil Prachar Sabhas’ were established in northern India to encourage learning any southern languages and to ‘preserve’ them.

Established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1918 and designated as an institution of national importance in 1964, the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha aimed to promote Hindi in southern India, with Gandhi’s son, Devadoss Gandhi, serving as its first Pracharak.

According to information from the DBHPS website, Gandhi envisioned that local residents should participate in promoting Hindi in the South. Initially located in George Town, the sabha’s office moved to Mylapore and later to Triplicane until it settled in 1936 in downtown T Nagar, Chennai.

“A century has passed since the establishment of the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha aimed at teaching South Indians Hindi. How many Uttar Bharat Tamil Prachar Sabhas have been formed in the North during this time? The reality is, we have never insisted that North Indians learn Tamil or any South Indian language to ‘preserve’ them. All we ask is for the #StopHindiImposition. If BJP-led states wish to teach 3 languages or even 30, they can! But just leave Tamil Nadu out of it,” he remarked.

Earlier, on March 3, it was argued that if students in Northern India are taught only two languages effectively, then why should Southern students need to learn an additional one?

Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister issued a stern warning against the central government’s perceived attempts to impose Hindi on the state, asserting that Tamil Nadu will never accept the New Education Policy (NEP) or any form of Hindi imposition.

Stalin affirmed that the state firmly rejects the NEP, delimitation, and Hindi imposition, accusing the central government of attempting to “impose Hindi indirectly” through the NEP.

The Tamil Nadu government has vocally opposed the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly criticizing the “three-language formula,” and claiming that the Centre aims to impose Hindi.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated the need to promote Indian languages through the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

(With contributions from agencies)