Hindi a facade, Sanskritisation Union govt’s real intent, says Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin

CHENNAI: The Union govt’s attempts to impose Hindi are only a facade and the real intention is to spread Sanskrit, Chief minister M K Stalin said on Thursday.
In his third letter to DMK cadres in three days, hitting out at the Union govt for its alleged plans to impose Hindi, Stalin said wherever the three-language formula was adopted, Hindi-Sanskrit took precedence. If TN too adopts a three-language formula, it will end up in advancing BJP’s Sanskritisation agenda.
More than 25 languages such as Maithili, Braj Basha, Bundelkhandi, Bhojpuri, Avadhi, Kannauji, Garhwali and Kumaoni spoken in various north Indian states were destroyed by Hindi-Sanskrit. Since Tamil fought against the direct invasion, BJP wants to impose Hindi-Sanskrit through National Education Policy, he said.
Stalin said there are questions asked on whether Hindi could destroy Tamil. “Neither Hindi nor Sanskrit can ever destroy the greatness of Tamil. Why do we oppose Hindi then?” he said, alluding to how Periyar had warned that detractors would try to ruin Tamil culture. “Fascists have always targeted a people’s language and culture to erase their identity,’’ Stalin said.
He said the fact that Tamil has survived without being corrupted by north Indian languages makes it a thorn in the flesh of those in power, forcing them to change their approach like promoting a three-language policy.
Stalin said Sec 4.17 of National Education Policy openly promotes Sanskrit at all education levels, relegating Tamil and other languages to secondary status.
Only in Sec 4.18, Tamil is mentioned. “Even this section says languages including Tamil shall be taught only in addition to Sanskrit,” Stalin said. This is a deliberate attempt to impose Sanskrit and push Tamil to the margins, he said. “In Kendriya Vidyalaya schools in Tamil Nadu, Tamil language teachers are not appointed.
The BJP government provides language teachers only if 15 or more students request to learn their native language. This shows the BJP’s disregard for Tamil,” he said.Meanwhile, in a tweet, Stalin addressed the people of other states and asked if they were aware of the number of languages swallowed by Hindi.
He listed out those languages including Bhojpuri and Maithili and said many more are gasping for breath.
“The push for a monolithic Hindi identity is what kills ancient mother tongues. UP and Bihar were never just ‘Hindi heartlands’. Their real languages are now relics of the past,” he said, adding that Tamil Nadu resists Hindi because TN knows where this would end.