Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Dayanidhi Maran has sparked the "Hindi versus English" debate. He has claimed that states which discourage English education are effectively setting their youth up for a life of "slavery". Speaking at a recent event, Maran suggested that some northern states intentionally steer students away from English, which he linked directly to poor job prospects and the subsequent mass migration to southern states like Tamil Nadu.
"You are told you will be ruined if you study English, that you must focus only on Hindi. You are being kept as slaves," Maran alleged, arguing that such language policies act as a barrier to global opportunities. He credited Tamil Nadu’s economic success and its ability to attract top-tier international firms to the state’s emphasis on English and the "Dravidian model" of education, which promotes equal schooling for both boys and girls.
The BJP was quick to jump on the comments, with leader Thirupathy Narayanan branding Maran's remarks as "senseless" and an insult to Hindi-speaking communities. "He must apologise to the people of India for portraying Hindi speakers as uneducated or uncivilised," Narayanan told the media, accusing the DMK leader of trying to divide the country along linguistic lines.
However, the DMK has stood its ground. Supporting Maran, party leader TKS Elangovan took a swipe at the social landscape of the north, claiming that "there is nobody to fight for women" in those regions. Elangovan argued that Tamil Nadu has been ahead of the curve for decades by reserving government jobs for women and ensuring they have access to higher education, a standard he believes is only being met in other states where the Congress or similar progressive parties are in power.
As the political dust settles, Maran's comments have once again highlighted the deep-seated friction between the southern push for linguistic autonomy and the central government's promotion of Hindi.
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