A day after the draft of National Education Policy 2019 said the three-language formula will need to be implemented throughout the country, Tamil Nadu has expressed stiff opposition. The state, that already has a history of opposing Hindi is now up in arms against the policy
Chennai: Tamil Nadu has strongly opposed the three-language formula’s continuation proposed in the draft of the National Education Policy alleging it was tantamount to “thrusting” Hindi and wanted it junked.
The Tamil Nadu government said it would continue with the two-language formula, seeking to cool frayed tempers. #StopHindiImposition, #TNAgainstHindiImposition trended on the microblogging site Twitter
The three-language formula which bats for Hindi from “pre-school to class 12 was a big shocker,” and the recommendation would “divide” the country, DMK chief MK Stalin said.
The draft policy prepared by a panel led by eminent scientist K Kasturirangan was unveiled on Friday (May 31).
Recalling the anti-Hindi agitations beginning as early as 1937 in Tamil Nadu, the DMK leader in a statement said since 1968 the state was following the two-language formula of learning only Tamil and English.
The Dravidian party also said recommendations like “Gurukula” mode of education, teaching Sanskrit and sending Hindi teachers from Hindi speaking states to non-Hindi speaking states would in due course cause a “big danger” to non-Hindi speaking people.
The recommendations, rather than lifting the standards of education, has led to doubt that it had “ulterior motives” like imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states and thrusting Sanskrit in schools, said the DMK.
Recalling Jawaharlal Nehru’s assurance that English would continue to be in use till such time desired by non-Hindi speaking states, he also pointed out that the state had enacted years ago a Compulsory Tamil Learning Act.
Demanding the Centre to reject the draft recommendations which was “imposition,” of Hindi under the garb of three-language formula, he said his party MPs would voice their strong opposition in Parliament as soon as the House was convened.
Taking potshots at the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) for being what it called a “yes master,” to the Centre, he wanted chief minister K Palaniswami to strongly oppose it and if not remove the words “Anna,” and “Dravida,” from his party’s name.
The AIADMK however hit back saying that they are in support with Education minister KA Sengottaiyan.
Speaking to MyNation, AIADMK MP Mahendran said, “We are in support of our education minister Sengottaiyan. We will not support the imposition of Hindi.”
Sengottaiyan had made a statement on a popular news channel that there will be no deviation from the two-language formula that is being followed in Tamil Nadu. “Only Tamil and English will continue to be taught in our state,” stated Sengottaiyan.
Stalin had also said that the BJP must never even dream to implement three-language formula in Tamil Nadu and such a “greedy dream,” would lead to “catastrophic,” consequences for them, he said.
Parties including the CPI and BJP’s ally in the Lok Sabha polls, the PMK too alleged the recommendation on the three-language formula was “imposition of Hindi” and wanted scrapping it.
Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan said, “be it language or a project, if we do not like that, it should not be forced on us.” He said his party would pursue legal options against it.
The draft of National Education Policy 2019 available on the government website said the three-language formula will need to be implemented in its spirit throughout the country, promoting multilingual communicative abilities for a multilingual country.
Schools in Hindi-speaking areas should also offer and teach Indian languages from other parts of India, it said. The three-language formula, followed since the adoption of the National Policy on Education 1968 and endorsed in subsequent years will be continued.
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