Hindi made mandatory in Maharashtra schools; MNS warns of protests

The Maharashtra government has decided to make Hindi mandatory for students in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools across the state.

 

The move comes amid the ongoing language war between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government, with the latter accusing the Narendra Modi government of trying to impose Hindi in the south Indian states.

 

The latest move by the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra also drew sharp reactions from several corners. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray slammed the move, saying his party will oppose the decision and ensure that it is not implemented.

 

“I want to make it clear that MNS will not tolerate this decision. We will not allow the central government's current efforts to 'Hindi-fy' everything, to succeed in this state,” Thackeray said in a post on X.

 

“Hindi is not a national language. It is a state language like other languages in the country. Why should it be taught in Maharashtra from the very beginning?,” asked the MNS chief. 

 

Currently, only Marathi and English are being taught as mandatory languages from Classes 1 to 4 in schools. 

 

The three-language formula was recommended in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the state school education department has declared a phase-wise implementation plan of the new curriculum framework. However, Thackeray urged the government to limit the tri-lingual formula to government affairs.

 

“We are Hindus but not Hindi! If you try to paint Maharashtra as Hindi, then there is bound to be a struggle in Maharashtra,” he warned.

 

The opposition Congress has also condemned the decision, terming it as the imposition of Hindi language. Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said the move goes against the Marathi ‘asmita' (pride). 

 

“There would have been no problem if Hindi were an optional language. But making it mandatory will hurt Marathi sentiments. Can we demand Marathi as a third language in Madhya Pradesh or Uttar Pradesh?,” Wadettiwar asked.

India