February 27, 2025: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has launched a sharp attack on the central government over the National Education Policy (NEP), accusing it of imposing Hindi at the cost of India's linguistic diversity. Stalin claimed that the forced adoption of Hindi has led to the gradual extinction of 25 North Indian languages over the years.
In a post on social media platform X, Stalin stated, "The push for a monolithic Hindi identity is what kills ancient mother tongues. UP and Bihar were never just 'Hindi heartlands.' Their real languages are now relics of the past." He also shared a letter he had written to the central government, opposing the three-language formula under NEP.
The DMK government has been at loggerheads with the Centre over the policy, which mandates Hindi as a compulsory part of education. Stalin accused the BJP-led government of systematically sidelining regional languages, arguing that the notion of Hindi as the "only unifying language" is a deliberate attempt to erase India's rich linguistic heritage.
The Tamil Nadu CM highlighted several languages that are "now gasping for survival," including Bhojpuri, Maithili, Awadhi, Braj, Bundeli, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Magahi, Marwari, Malvi, Chhattisgarhi, Santhali, Angika, Ho, Kharia, Khortha, Kurmali, Kurukh, and Mundari, among others.
He also questioned the Centre's commitment to India's linguistic diversity, pointing out that non-Hindi signboards were missing at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, an event attended by people from across the country.
Stalin cited the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which officially recognises 22 languages, arguing that many other languages remain excluded. "If analysed, it will become clear that the goal is not unity but the systematic erasure of linguistic diversity in the name of centralisation," he said.
Affirming Tamil Nadu’s firm stance, Stalin reiterated that the state will not adopt the three-language policy, insisting that the existing two-language policy will remain in place.