Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has expressed significant concerns regarding the celebration of Hindi Month alongside the Golden Jubilee of Chennai Doordarshan.
He strongly condemned this event, describing it as an imposition of Hindi in a multilingual state. Stalin's comments reflect a broader issue of linguistic representation and diversity in India.
In a post on X, he stated, “I strongly condemn the celebration of Hindi Month valedictory function along with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Chennai Doordarshan. The Constitution of India does not grant national language status to any language. In a multilingual nation, celebrating Hindi Month in non-Hindi-speaking states is seen as an attempt to belittle other languages.”
Stalin further emphasised that Hindi and English are only recognised for official purposes. He pointed out that conducting Hindi-focused events in Tamil Nadu undermines local languages, particularly Tamil, which is one of the world's oldest languages. He requested that the Central Government avoid such Hindi-oriented events in non-Hindi-speaking states. Instead, he suggested promoting local languages with equal fervour.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the closing ceremony of the Hindi Month celebrations was set to occur at Doordarshan Tamil in Chennai, with Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi as the special guest. He labelled this an "attempt to impose Hindi" and insisted that it should not go unchallenged. Stalin mentioned that India boasts 122 languages, spoken by many, plus 1,599 other languages. He argued there is no justification for celebrating only one language in such a linguistically diverse country.
In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Stalin reiterated that India has no national language. He stated, “If Hindi Month is being celebrated, then the same should be done for Tamil language.” He expressed discontent with the Central Government’s tendency to promote Hindi at the expense of other languages.
Stalin urged the government to cancel the Hindi Month celebrations and to hold special events celebrating classical languages recognised in various states.
This, he argued, could foster goodwill among different communities. He noted that, whether under Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party, the imposition of Hindi continues to be an issue.
He mentioned that the Tamil language deserves equal recognition, especially considering its historical significance. He reminded the government that when the Constitution was adopted, 14 languages, including Tamil, were included in its Eighth Schedule. “The Central Government should have declared that day as Tamil Language Day,” he said.
Stalin concluded his letter by stating that neglecting other languages while celebrating only Hindi is tantamount to denigrating the rich linguistic diversity of India. His sentiments resonate with many who feel that the richness of Indian culture should be reflected in its languages.
Earlier, S Ramadoss, founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, also took to social media to criticise the Hindi Month celebrations, labelling them a blatant attempt to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu.
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