New Delhi: There is no question of imposing any language on any state or community. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 upholds the principle of linguistic freedom and ensures that students continue to learn in the language of their choice,” Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote to Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Friday.
He was responding to Stalin’s scathing attack on the Centre for attempting to implement the three-language policy.
“This brings me to a crucial point – the three-language policy, which has been the backbone of India’s education framework since 1968. Unfortunately, despite being part of successive education policies, it was never implemented in letter and spirit, leading to a decline in the systematic teaching of Indian languages in schools. Over time, this has resulted in an over-reliance on foreign languages, limiting students’ exposure to their linguistic roots. NEP 2020 seeks to correct this historical oversight by ensuring that every Indian language, including Tamil, receives its rightful place in education,” the Union Minister noted, while accusing the state of turning “progressive reforms into threats for politics” and having a “myopic vision.”
The Education Minister instead asked the Tamil Nadu chief minister to rise above political differences and “think about the interests of the young learners”.
The language war between the BJP-led Union Government and the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu began after Dharmendra on Thursday said that the state stood to lose Rs 5,000 crore for not rolling out the PM Shree programme, which is part of NEP 2020.
Stalin, who has always been vocal against the three-language policy, claimed that this announcement was an attempt to promote Hindi and not education. The TN chief minister shot off a letter to the Prime Minister and made it clear that till he and the DMK are in power in the state, he would not allow any “anti-Tamil, anti-Tamil Nadu or anti-Tamilian agenda” to succeed, while seeking the release of funds held back by the Centre.
Dharmendra’s letter was clearly an attempt to smooth ruffled feathers.
However, Stalin lambasted the Union Education Minister for calling the state’s opposition to NEP as politics while speaking at an event in Cuddalore on Friday evening. Threatening to stop paying taxes to the Centre, he warned: “Don’t hurl stones at a beehive. Don’t provoke the unique spirit of the Tamil people. Don’t seek to witness the resurgence of Tamil defiance.”
The DMK government is keen to stick to the two-language policy, which it claims has ensured high literacy and global competitiveness.
During the inaugural function of the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too on Friday made it clear that his government is committed to embrace and enrich all language .
Dharmendra reiterated the same at the 101st Convocation Ceremony of the University of Delhi on Saturday, when spoke on NEP 2020 and how this Policy will ensure inclusiveness that is so important in today’s world.
