Regarding teaching Hindi as the third language in schools from first to fifth standard in Maharashtra, the government says that opposition parties are spreading confusion. The opposition says that the government should not impose Hindi.
Maharashtra Hindi Compulsory: Before the municipal elections in Maharashtra, a big controversy has arisen over language. All the parties are trying to capitalize on this issue. In fact, on Tuesday (17 June), the Devendra Fadnavis government had said in a government order (GR) that Hindi will be taught as the third language to students from class one to five in Marathi and English medium schools of the state.
It was also said that, “Instead of making Hindi compulsory, it will be the third language in general, but it also gives the option that if 20 students per class in a school express their desire to study any other Indian language other than Hindi, they can leave it.”
Opposition parties are protesting against this order. Marathi organizations are also demanding withdrawal of this decision. On Monday (23 June) itself, a decision was taken to launch a statewide movement under the leadership of Marathi Abhyas Kendra. A committee of 21 people has been formed for this.
The controversy started in April
Earlier in the month of April, there was a ruckus over Hindi. Then the Maharashtra government withdrew the decision after protests. Now the government has issued orders with some amendments.
In an order issued in April, the government had said, “Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the three-language formula has been implemented in schools in Maharashtra for classes 1 to 5.” Earlier, only Marathi and English were compulsory in classes 1 to 4 in these schools.
Government’s stand
in opposition: Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the government, said on Monday that the government will not take any such decision, which will harm the reputation of Marathi language.
On the other hand, Marathi language minister and leader of Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Uday Samant, said on Monday (23 June) that Hindi language is not compulsory, no such circular has been issued anywhere. The three-language formula is applicable not only in Maharashtra but also in other states. All other questions should be asked to the School Education Minister. Hindi is not being imposed. We are being defamed. My suggestion to those who are defaming us is that they should convey the correct information to the people.
Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that the central government has brought a 3 language policy across the country with proper deliberation in the National Education Policy. NEP is for the whole country and Maharashtra cannot adopt a two language policy. While learning their regional language, if a student learns an additional language, what is wrong in it? The additional language will help in increasing their knowledge.
Raj Thackeray is vocal
, while the opposition parties say that if Hindi is being made compulsory in Maharashtra, will Marathi be taught in UP? Raj Thackeray, the head of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNA), who does politics on ‘Marathi Manush’, is vocal about his opposition to Hindi.
On June 18, he said that Hindi is just a state language, not a national language. Do not teach all this to new children. Whatever language he has to learn, he will understand it when he grows up. Is there pressure from the IAS lobby? So why is there pressure for a third language here? Will Marathi be taught as the third language in UP, Bihar and MP? Hindi is not necessary even in Gujarat.
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray protested on June 19 saying that they have created a situation of a fight between Hindus. Why is Hindi being imposed? Devendra Fadnavis, if you have the courage, try imposing Hindi. I don’t know whether they are imposing it in Gujarat or not?
What did Congress say?
Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal said that the RSS and BJP’s agenda of ‘one nation, one language, one culture’ has reached the core of Maharashtra and until it is rejected, we will not sit quiet.
Sapkal wrote on X, “CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde , Ajit Pawar’s loyalty is not towards Maharashtra or Marathi people, but towards the people of Delhi.”
On the other hand, NCP (SP) President and former Chief Minister Sharad Pawar said that it should remain optional. Those who want to choose Hindi can choose it. Just because 50 to 60 percent of the population speaks Hindi, this language cannot be made compulsory for everyone.
Amidst the attacks from the opposition, it will be interesting to see how much impact it has on the local body elections?