The Tamil Nadu vs centre ‘language war’ – over the National Education Policy and its three-language formula, which the southern state views as ‘imposition of Hindi’ – exploded inside and outside Parliament Monday with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticising the latter’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for being “uncivilised” and “ruining the future of students (from the state)”.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who has called ‘Hindi imposition’ as the act of “entitled bigots” delivered a feisty response; on X he told Mr Pradhan to “mind his words” and said, “The Union Education Minister, who thinks of himself as a king and speaks arrogantly, needs to be disciplined!”

“They (the DMK) are being dishonest. They are not committed to Tamil Nadu students. They are ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students. Their only job is to raise language barriers. They are doing politics… mischief. They are undemocratic,” Mr Pradhan raged in the Lok Sabha.

This followed his earlier claim – that Tamil Nadu had, in fact, agreed to fully implement the new education policy, including its three-language formula, only to backtrack later, allegedly in hopes of using the emotionally charged issue to get votes in next year’s Assembly election.

He also claimed “internal bickering” in the DMK – which has dominated recent elections in the state, including the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls – had led to this stand-off.

“Thinks Of Himself As King”

The minister’s unseemly “uncivilised” jab drew a biting response from Mr Stalin, who said Mr Pradhan “thinks of himself as a king”. “You are insulting the people of Tamil Nadu. Does the Honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, accept this?” Mr Stalin asked, tagging the PM and continuing, “We have not come forward to implement your plan (the three-language formula) … and no one can force us…”

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister then demanded a definitive answer from Mr Modi on claims by Mr Pradhan last month – that the centre will withhold funds for the state’s education sector unless it complies with the three-language policy. Mr Stalin had branded this warning as “blackmail”.

“Just answer whether it is possible to release funds belonging to Tamil Nadu students and the taxes collected from us!” he thundered in his post, warning the BJP, as his deputy, Udhayanidhi Stalin had last month, the state had “rejected the National Education Policy entirely”.

BJP, DMK Leaders Snipe

It wasn’t just Mr Pradhan and Mr Stalin firing at each other; ex-Tamil Nadu Governor and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundarajan accused the DMK of denying students from poorer sections the right to study a third language. “When children from affluent families (can) study three languages, why is the same opportunity being denied to poor children… ” she asked.

Meanwhile, from across the aisle, the DMK’s Dayanidhi Maran and K Kanimozhi hit out at the narrative the party had reneged on a promise to fully implement the new education policy.

.. DMK never agreed to NEP or three-language policy… all we said is our students need not learn three languages while students from the north learn only one. We are not against Hindi… if students want to learn… they are free to do so but it should not be compulsory…” Mr Maran said.

‘Hindi Imposition’

The row over ‘Hindi imposition’ – a sensitive topic in the south, and particularly in Tamil Nadu, where violent ‘anti-Hindi’ riots broke out in the 1960s and which has always been opposed to the language being foisted on it – has re-erupted with the BJP pushing its new education policy.

The DMK argues Tamil Nadu has flourished with a two-language system (Tamil and English) and sees no need for a third. The BJP maintains its formula will benefit people travelling to other states.

In an exclusive interview  last month, Mr Pradhan accused the Tamil Nadu government of creating a “false narrative” and depriving students of academic progress for their own political ends.

Mr Shah claimed the centre had done more for Tamil speakers than the state party, pointing to a decision to allow candidates for the Central Armed Police Force entrance test to write in their mother tongue. “I want to urge the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to take steps towards introducing the curriculum of medical and engineering courses in Tamil as soon as possible,” he declared.

It is important, however, to note the centre approved the conduct of CAPF exams in 13 regional languages, in 2023, days after Mr Stalin protested the decision to conduct it only in Hindi and English.

“This (‘Hindi imposition’) is like an kindergarten student lecturing a PhD holder….” he said.

“History is clear. Those who tried to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu have either been defeated or later changed their stance and aligned with DMK (the unspoken reference was to the Congress, which was in power at the centre during the anti-Hindi riots of the 1960s and is now a firm ally). Tamil Nadu will not tolerate Hindi colonialism replacing British colonialism,” the Chief Minister responded.