‘Backdoor move to impose Hindi’: Opposition, Marathi outfits slam order on Hindi as 3rd language in schools

Maharashtra government’s fresh order on teaching of Hindi language in schools has sparked further controversy with opposition leaders and Marathi outfits calling it a ‘backdoor’ move to impose Hindi on the state. In an amended government resolution, the Maharashtra school education department states that Hindi will "generally" be the third language for students from Classes 1 to 5, instead of being mandatory, giving an option to opt for another Indian language, given that there are at least 20 students in a batch.

Hitting out at the government, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray asked the need to "impose" Hindi on students and appealed to schools to oppose the government's "hidden agenda to deliberately create a language divide". Hindi is the state language of some northern states and it is wrong to force it on Maharashtra, where Marathi is widely used, he asserted. If the government forces the schools, the party will stand by them like a "rock", Thackeray said at a press conference, and demanded continuation of the previous two-language formula of English and Marathi.

"Why is there a need for an alternative to Hindi? Hindi was always an optional language from higher grades in school. Those who wish to learn the language always did so. Why impose it on small children?" Thackeray asked. He said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 doesn't say Hindi should be a mandatory language in schools, but leaves the decision on state governments on the basis of what local people want.

Thackeray said he had doubts that the government may make a "U-turn" as it did not issue a GR earlier after taking a decision that Hindi will not be mandatory. He said apart from the school managements and principals, he will also be writing to the government to withdraw its fresh order. The previous two-language formula of English and Marathi should continue, he asserted. "I appeal to schools, parents and all citizens to foil the government's hidden agenda to deliberately create a language divide for selfish political interests," Thackeray said.

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While some Marathi language advocates accused the government of reintroducing the policy through the "backdoor" after initially backtracking, the opposition Congress accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of "stabbing" the Marathi people in the chest.

"This is nothing but the backdoor imposition of Hindi," claimed Deepak Pawar of the Mumbai-based Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra, working to preserve the Marathi language. "The government has betrayed the Marathi people. If we remain silent now, it will pave the way for dismantling the federal structure and the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement," he charged in a social media post, urging people to protest.

Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said it is unlikely to find 20 students in a class opting for a non-Hindi language. "The provision to make teacher available online is also an attempt to discourage opting for any other language than Hindi. Although, Marathi and Hindi have similar scripts, it will be too much for students of such young age to learn the nuances and differences between the scripts," he claimed.

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Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the fresh government order on the three-language formula was a planned plot to impose Hindi, and accused CM Devendra Fadnavis of "stabbing" Marathi people in the chest. The public was "deceived" by saying that the compulsion of Hindi as a third language has been abolished. But what does the GR say, he mentioned in a post on X.

"Hindi will be the compulsory third language. If any other language is to be learned, the requirement is for at least 20 students, It's a show of giving an alternative and the planned plot to impose Hindi. This is BJP's anti-Maharashtra agenda and a conspiracy to eliminate the Marathi language, Marathi identity and Marathi people," Sapkal alleged.

Hindi in Maharashtra schools: Education minister defends Govt move

Maharashtra school education minister Dada Bhuse defended the government's decision of Hindi to be taught as the third language in schools, saying it is widely used in daily communication and will help Class 12 students in higher education. Bhuse noted that while an earlier government communication used the word "mandatory" for Hindi, the revised order issued on Tuesday described it as "generally" the third language.

Addressing concerns over the imposition of Hindi, Bhuse said students will be given the option to choose another Indian language as the third language. "If students opt for any other language, we are making arrangements for that. If fewer students select it, the language will be taught online or through other available medium. The decision to select a third language is left to students and their parents," he added. It could help students to improve their merit, the minister said.

"Learning Hindi is important because it is largely used for communication in public life," the minister told reporters here. "After the 12th standard, the Union government has given importance to scores in the third language as well. In such a policy, students from Maharashtra should not fall behind; hence the three-language policy is accepted," he said. "Hence, learning Hindi will benefit students in the long run," Bhuse said.

(with inputs from PTI)