Language Row Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Says Make Tamil Nadu Comply

Undeniably, every now and then "Language War" flares up in India, and a recent case has reignited the debate. A lawyer and head of the state BJP legal cell has submitted a petition seeking judicial approval to enforce the National Education Policy (NEP) and its proposed three-language curriculum in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal.

This time, GS Mani, the lawyer from Tamil Nadu at the center of the controversy, argues that the NEP aims to enhance the quality of education for students from all backgrounds. He claims the state governments in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal are resisting this initiative due to political motives, falsely justifying their stance by claiming it imposes Hindi.

Last week, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin voiced strong opposition to the Centre’s New Education Policy, asserting that the push for a three-language formula is yet another attempt to impose Hindi on southern states. He linked this issue to delimitation, suggesting it represents a political move to assert cultural dominance.

CM Stalin contended that imposing Hindi threatens the cultural identity of non-Hindi-speaking states, declaring he is ready for a "language war."

This issue has heated up, with most non-BJP parties rallying together against it as the elections approach.

Tamil Nadu has a long-standing tradition of rejecting the Centre's three-language approach, opting instead for a two-language policy that teaches Tamil and English in schools. The situation intensified after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that Tamil Nadu would not receive funding under the Samagra Shiksha scheme until it fully adopts the National Education Policy 2020.