M K Stalin challenges BJP’s linguistic move: Revival of anti-Hindi sentiment in Tamil Nadu

In a fervent response to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments on the Tamil language and identity, Tamil Nadu‘s Chief Minister M K Stalin declared on Friday that the BJP had lost its moral standing to even speak the word ‘Tamil.’ Stalin’s strong stance emerged a day after Modi’s criticisms towards the DMK in Parliament. The Chief Minister took to Twitter, underscoring Tamil Nadu’s and DMK’s historic roles as defenders against linguistic impositions.

Stalin expressed grave concerns over the BJP-led Union Government’s recent attempts to alter India’s rich linguistic tapestry. Pointing specifically to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, he tagged the measures as reflections of ‘linguistic imperialism.’ The DMK leader recalled the state’s resilience during past anti-Hindi movements, vowing to fiercely resist any future attempts at Hindi imposition.

M K Stalin challenges linguistic move of BJP: Revival of anti-Hindi sentiment in Tamil Nadu. Photo courtesy of Arunjkumar007/Wikimedia Commons.

Fueling this renewed contention over language was Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s comments lamenting the purported sidelining of Hindi and Sanskrit studies in Tamil Nadu. Sitharaman’s tweet advocating for the freedom to learn Hindi or Sanskrit was promptly challenged by popular singer Chinmayi Sripaada, who pointed out that Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Hindi learners.

Contradicting Sitharaman’s claims further, a senior journalist highlighted that during her educational years at Seethalakshmi Ramaswamy College in Trichy, Hindi was indeed offered as a second language. The narrative was bolstered by numerous others who shared their experiences of Hindi education in the state, emphasizing its longstanding presence via Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha.

With the linguistic debate reigniting, the evolving political dynamics in Tamil Nadu demand close observation as leaders and citizens alike voice their perspectives on India’s multifaceted linguistic heritage.