In a diverse country like India, languages not only help to connect people, but also create disputes many times. This becomes even more true when language is spoken by political tongue. The most recent example of this is the new education policy (NEP) There is a political uproar over three-language formula in 2020, about which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin alleges that it is an attempt to impose Hindi in the Tamil-speaking state. Is the three-language formula BJP’s discovery and will it work to impose Hindi on those states which are not ready to teach it?
Accused of imposing Hindi
Tamil Nadu has accused the Center of stopping Rs 573 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, as the state has refused to join the PM Sri Pahal to set up a model school. Tamil Nadu says that his refusal is related to the condition of implementing NEP in the state. The Tamil -speaking state sees NEP as an attempt by the BJP -led central government to implement three language formula and Hindi through it.
A top Delhi -based CBSE official refused to clarify India Today Digital whether these languages would have to be studied only till class 8 or it is mandatory for class 10 board examinations. With a stand against population -based delimitation, this anti -Hindi stance is giving Stalin and his party DMK a strong foundation against the BJP before the 2026 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
Decision for linguistic freedom
It has been clear from the attitude that DMK leadership has taken. However, the opposition of Tamil Nadu for NEP is also stems from its proposed changes- such as a similar graduate entrance examination, standardized examinations and vocational training. But the DMK has opted to raise the language issue itself. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin said that Tamil Nadu has always been against three-language policy. We will never accept it. The Center wants to use NEP as an entry of Hindi from the back door.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has tried to explain that NEP 2020 is about linguistic freedom and options. He has accused the DMK -led government of doing politics about the language and creating language controversy. Education in the Constitution is in the concurrent list, which means that both the Center and the state can make policies in relation to it.
Three language formula in schools
Three languages run in schools across India. Students all over India have learned three languages, especially in the Central Board. In both CBSE and ICSE schools, students learn a third language till class 8th. That language can be Hindi, Sanskrit, a regional or foreign language, which depends on the medium of teaching and the other language chosen by the student and school.
For example, in the 70s, a person studying in a CBSE school in Tamil Nadu said that English was his first language. In the school, Hindi, Tamil and some foreign languages were taught as the second and third languages. Usually students who choose Assamese as a second language study it till class 10th and Hindi till class 8th, and on the contrary, students who choose Hindi as a second language, they study it till class 10, and study Assamese till class 8th.
The trend of two languages in some states
Students in North and West India have also chosen Sanskrit as the third language, as its font is Devanagari, and can give relatively better marks. In state boards like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, students also have to take board exams with three languages. Actually, Kerala has made Hindi compulsory along with English and has made the language of the state Malayalam alternate with Arabic.
However, boards of many states adopt two-language formula. Tamil Nadu is one of them, where Tamil and English are taught in government schools of the state. Therefore, while the Central Board is teaching three languages, some state boards have taught two languages so far.
Where did the three language formula come from
In education, there was a complicated issue in both language, education medium and medium taught. Remember, the state in India is formed on linguistic basis. The University Education Commission of 1948-49, which was chaired by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, considered the language deeply in education. It is known as the Radhakrishnan Commission, it supported regional languages for Hindi and provincial purposes as the federal language of India. For higher secondary level students, the Commission with three languages will be the basis of three language formulas.
It suggested that educated India would have to make up their mind to be bilingual to participate in federal activities and promote nationwide solidarity and students at higher secondary and university level have to know three languages. It suggests that every boy and girl should clearly regional language, as well as federal language [हिन्दी] Should also be familiar with, and gain the ability to read books in English. The Commission said that this is not an extraordinary need and gave an example of Holland schools, where most students learn four languages. Also from Switzerland, where it is common to learn three languages.
What suggestions for new education policy?
The new education policy (NEP), which was flagged off by the Union Cabinet in 2020, re-introducing three-language formula, the idea was first introduced in the 1968 NEP. The NEP 1968 was based on the Kothari Commission report, which suggested to promote three languages in education.
– A modern Indian language, which can be any southern language in Hindi speaking states other than Hindi and English.
– Hindi and English, along with regional languages, should be made part of the non-Hindi speaking states of India.
– Hindi was targeted to develop a contact language and the medium of expression of India’s overall culture.
– NEP 2020 emphasizes the use of local languages in education and in the appointment of teachers.
While Hindi was made mandatory in the National Education Policy 1968, on the other hand, the National Education Policy 2020 has been given the option to choose the third language. The NEP 2020 document states that although there will be more flexibility in three language formulas and no language will be imposed on any state. It states that three languages will be selected by states and students, provided at least two of the three languages are the native language of India.
Radhakrishnan Commission recommendations
Educationist Navneet Sharma says that the Radhakrishnan Commission suggested mother tongue as the medium of education, the same was done in all education policies including education policies of 1986. He further said that nothing is new or unique about NEP 2020. Sharma told India Today Digital that there is no clarity on how NEP 2020 promotes three languages.
Navneet Sharma says that students can move forward with only one language in class 10th board examination, because all languages including Hindi have been placed in a category in the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 for school education. However, the NCF 2023 demands the implementation of three language formulas keeping in mind the constitutional provisions, multi -languageism and national unity.
What is the objection of Tamil Nadu
In NEP 2020, students have been asked to learn three languages, two of which should be Indians. Also, it makes NEP 2020 and thus make three-language formula mandatory for the implementation of PM Shri Yojana. Tamil Nadu has the most trouble with this. He believes that NEP is a way of secretly implementing Hindi.
Finding quality teachers for other regional languages other than Tamil can be a problem for the state government, while some experts suggest that Hindi teachers will be easily available. He argues that this will make the ‘back door entry’ of Hindi in the state easier.
Old history of language dispute
The history of Hindi opposition in Tamil Nadu begins in 1937, when the Congress government made Hindi mandatory in schools in Madras Presidency. The move was seen as damaging the Dravidian heritage, causing heavy resentment to the Tamils. Periyar EV Ramasamy made Hindi opposition a major issue of his Dravidian movement.
In 1965, in the year in which Hindi was to be made the official language of India, hundreds of deaths occurred in the state and the state continued to burn until the Center decided to put the scheme on hold. When the NEP focused on Hindi was started in 1968, Tamil Nadu has been adamant on two-language formula. Even today, most of the parties of Tamil Nadu, crossing the political partition, are united to oppose the three-language formula.
Any mention of three languages in the schools of Tamil Nadu is similar to imposing Hindi. The state government also sees funds associated with PM Shri Yojana for model schools as atrocities on the state on the issue of language by the Center. Tamil Nadu is in Confusion, despite the emphasis on local languages in three-language formula in NEP 2020. Although NEP 2020 does not implement Hindi, Tamil Nadu argues that it makes its ‘back door entry’, only then the parties are looking at the education funds by adding it.