Tamil Nadu politicians expressed disbelief at Home Minister Amit Shah’s suggestion that Hindi be accepted as an alternative to English. The issue of language has long been settled in Tamil Nadu, with a history of struggles dating back to pre-Independence days. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin made it clear that they are not against Hindi, but against its imposition. He emphasized that learning a language should be an individual’s choice and condemned those who want to impose one language on the entire country.
In 2020, Tamil Nadu strongly opposed the Hindi imposition plan, with celebrities and prominent figures wearing T-shirts saying “Don’t know Hindi, Get Lost.” The Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Dravidar Kazhagam (D.K.), and other parties organized demonstrations against the Home Minister’s statement. The Dravidar Kazhagam argued that Hindi imposition had been attempted from time to time, including through the National Education Policy. They pointed out that Tamil cannot be taught in the Hindi-speaking belt, as many people from that region come to Tamil Nadu for jobs. Some supporters even defaced Hindi letters in protest.
Meanwhile, an incident at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) suggested that Hindi was being imposed in non-Hindi speaking states. JIPMER’s Hindi Cell issued a circular stating that Hindi should be used in all official work, contradicting the Official Language Rule, 1976. Tamil Nadu politicians, including Thamizhachi Thangapandian and DMK, strongly criticized this move, calling it a violation of linguistic diversity.
DMK leader Kanimozhi has frequently spoken out against Hindi imposition and requested that her name board be replaced with one in English during a meeting. She questioned the obsession with one language and criticized the government for deepening conflicts instead of addressing important issues like unemployment and gender inequality.
The Union government has repeatedly assured Tamil Nadu that Hindi will not be imposed, but the recent incidents have raised concerns among politicians. They argue that the assurance given by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is being violated, and the Home Minister’s statement about withholding finances from states that don’t accept Hindi is unacceptable.
Tamil Nadu governments, both DMK and AIADMK, have supported the two-language formula (Tamil and English) for the state. They believe that this formula is best suited for Tamil Nadu. The struggle against Hindi imposition has a long history in the state, with supporters advocating for the retention of English as the official language. The DMK’s manifesto for the 2021 Assembly election emphasizes its commitment to fight against Hindi imposition and promote the Tamil language.