Don’t weaponize language

The current controversy over claims of Hindi imposition by Tamil Nadu is not at all a healthy sign for our democracy its federal structure and even our constitutional nationalism. While the state has a long history of protests against Hindi imposition starting from 1937 and then in the fifties it was amicably resolved and the resultant peace has given good results for both the state and the union and reassured all states of respect of federal system. The recent decision to implement the 3 language policy through the NEP has rekindled the suspicion about the intent of the union and more so of the RSS- BJP dispensation. While education is now a subject of concurrent list and the union is empowered to legislate, it should not be used for political purposes. The RSS has long held the position of Hindi, Hindu Hindustan and linguistic uniformity is an essential part of its idea of Indian nationhood. The war of words is also indicative of political brinksmanship where threats like withholding central grants and even imposing president rule are being made by senior party functionaries and MPs. The education minister’s claim of providing education in medium having common linguistic roots is highly contentious both in pedagogy and linguistics. Such unnecessary escalation of ideological issues is not healthy for our polity.