‘Linguistic Tyranny’: MK Stalin condemns LIC for using hindi on its website in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has vehemently criticized the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India for using Hindi on its website in Tamil Nadu. He argued that this move is a form of "cultural imposition."

In a post on the microblogging site X, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief stated, "The LIC website has been reduced to a propaganda tool for Hindi imposition. Even the option to select English is displayed in Hindi!"

Stalin underscored that using Hindi in this manner amounts to a cultural and linguistic imposition, which undermines India's diversity. He questioned LIC's loyalty to its contributors from non-Hindi speaking regions, stating, "How dare it betray the majority of its contributors?"

Adding to the uproar, Dr. S Ramadoss, founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), described this language switch as a "blatant imposition of Hindi on other language-speaking people." In his own X post, Ramadoss emphasized that the central government and its agencies have persistently attempted to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speakers. He urged LIC to change its homepage to English immediately and to launch services in Tamil, noting that the website currently offers only Hindi and English.

The controversy follows several months of efforts by MK Stalin and his deputy, Udhayanidhi Stalin, to promote the preservation of Tamil culture and language. In October, a similar dispute arose when Governor RN Ravi omitted references to "Dravida" in the state anthem during a function, which Stalin criticized as an attempt to undermine Tamil identity.

Stalin has also suggested that Hindi-oriented events in non-Hindi speaking states should be avoided, advocating instead for the celebration of local languages.