Bhagwat’s Stress On Mother Tongue Use Adds New Dimension To Centre’s Three-Language Scheme

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing tiff between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over implementation of the three-language scheme under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has batted for the use of their mother tongue by people at home, instead of English.

Speaking at an event in Guwahati, Assam, on Sunday, Bhagwat said: “Why should we speak in English at home? We should speak in our mother tongue. While speaking to others, if everyone understands Hindi, we should use Hindi. We should use a foreign language only where it is absolutely essential.”

Urging all Indian households to embrace ‘Swadeshi’ practices in their language, food and attire, both at home and when traveling, Bhagwat said: “There are five essential transformations needed in society. There needs to be social harmony, while family values, protection of the environment, ‘Swadeshi’ practices and civic duties need to be given importance. There is also a need to foster friendship between different religions, communities, castes, regions and languages.”

The RSS chief also spoke on the importance of harmony amongst Hindus. All temples, cremation grounds and water bodies should be unified in spirit through mutual respect and cooperation, he said.

A few days ago, Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin had put his foot down against the Centre’s decision to implement the three-language scheme. Under this scheme, Hindi was to be taught in schools in TN along with Tamil and English. Stalin claimed that this was an attempt to impose Hindi. Bhagwat’s statement on the use of the mother tongue is likely to add a new angle to the controversy.