Three-language policy debate in Tamil Nadu: union education minister responds
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The ongoing debate over language policy in Tamil Nadu has intensified.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asserted that there is “no question of imposing any language” but raised concerns about an over-reliance on foreign languages, which he argues limits students' linguistic and cultural roots.
His remarks were made in a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, where he defended the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for opposing it on political grounds.
Pradhan emphasised that the NEP promotes linguistic freedom, allowing students to learn in the language of their choice. He accused the DMK of viewing the policy through a narrow political lens, distorting its progressive reforms to fit a political narrative. The minister also referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2022 statement that “Tamil is an eternal language”, reaffirming the government’s commitment to promoting Tamil language and culture on a global scale.
His letter comes amid growing friction between the central government and Tamil Nadu over the alleged imposition of Hindi - a deeply sensitive issue in the state.
The letter follows Chief Minister Stalin’s recent appeal to Prime Minister Modi, in which he objected to Pradhan’s warning that Tamil Nadu must comply with the three-language formula under the NEP or risk losing central educational funds. Stalin urged the release of Rs 2,154 crore in education sector funds for 2024-25 in the spirit of cooperative federalism, emphasising that Tamil Nadu would not abandon its two-language policy - in place since 1967 - for the NEP’s three-language system.
Pradhan dismissed Stalin’s concerns as politically motivated and not written in good taste, arguing that the DMK was creating unnecessary fear around the policy.
Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is also MK Stalin’s son, echoed his father’s stance, declaring that Tamil Nadu was “ready for another language war”. He invoked the state’s Dravidian roots, recalling previous protests against Hindi imposition and warning the BJP that Tamil Nadu would resist any attempts to enforce the language.
Referring to past anti-Hindi movements, Udhayanidhi stated, “The last time you tried to take away the rights of the Tamil people, they started ‘GoBackModi’. If you try again, this time the slogan will be ‘Get Out, Modi’.”
Tamil Nadu has long resisted Hindi imposition, with protests dating back to the 1930s and 1960s. The state follows a two-language policy, teaching Tamil and English in government schools, which officials argue gives students a strong local identity while ensuring global opportunities through English.
Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi reaffirmed this stance, stating that “Tamil and English are more than enough for us” and pointing to Tamil Nadu’s strong academic performance in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Amid this controversy, the BJP is intensifying its push for the three-language policy, launching a statewide campaign from March 1 ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Historically, the BJP has struggled to gain electoral success in the state. In 2016, it contested all 234 seats and failed to win any. In 2021, it reduced its focus to 20 seats, winning only four. Its Lok Sabha record in Tamil Nadu has been even worse, with zero seats in both the 2019 and 2024 elections.
Ahead of the elections, BJP’s Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai criticised the DMK’s steadfast commitment to the two-language policy, calling it “outdated” and unsuited for a rapidly evolving world.