CHENNAI: In the wake of an ongoing tussle between the centre and the state on alleged Hindi imposition through New Education Policy, Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday said the state was prepared for another language war.
“This is a continuous struggle, a rightful fight against cultural onslaught and a battle to protect Mother Tamil from a hegemonic language,” Stalin said in a letter to DMK cadres on Tuesday.
The struggle was to preserve the identity of the Tamil race and nurture Tamil language to suit the scientific advancements of modern day, Stalin said.
“They keep imposing Hindi, and we continue resisting it. This fight against dominance will continue until it is ended,’’ Stalin said.
Hitting out at BJP leaders in TN, Stalin said a small bunch of mischievous people question TN’s opposition to Hindi imposition when other states accept it. They should know that even before India attained independence, the then Madras Province had its own language policy and a vision. This was due to ethnic identity fostered by Dravidian movement, Stalin said.
“Hence, Tamil Nadu remains unique and ahead in education, skill development and finding global employment opportunities,’’ he said.
TN used the two-language policy with Tamil as the foundation and English as global communication tool, enabling the state to grow faster, he said.
Stalin said the fighting spirit of Tamils that consistently opposed language hegemony enabled Tamil language to retain its relevance and glory from the time it was written on potsherds to the present era of artificial intelligence.
Stalin said TN was not against learning of any language but would oppose imposition of any language.
“We are not enemies of any language, nor do we stop anyone from learning any language. At the same time, we will not permit any language to suppress or erase Tamil,’’ he said.
Stalin said this firm position was recognised as the right approach by many states across India.
BJP, as a policy, deceives TN and its leaders here are betraying TN, said Stalin, adding they have become servants of Sanskrit.
Since TN is spreading this awareness among states, BJP govt at the Centre was denying funds to TN, said Stalin. Stating that TN was ready to face another language war, he said there would not be any compromise in this battle.
Responding to the letter, BJP state president K Annamalai said DMK’s hypocrisy in language policy has been exposed by opposing Hindi in govt schools while promoting it in private schools, many of which are run by DMK functionaries.