The Centre has moved quickly to defuse a potentially volatile controversy over the charge of Hindi imposition. The reference in the newly unveiled draft National Education Policy to mandatory teaching of Hindi in all States was withdrawn following an outcry from political leaders in Tamil Nadu, a State that is quite sensitive to any hint of ‘Hindi imposition’ by the Centre. The modified draft under the heading ‘Flexibility in the choice of languages’, has omitted references to the language that students may choose. However, the broader recommendation regarding the implementation of a three-language formula remains, something Tamil Nadu, which will not budge from its two-language formula, is averse to. In Tamil Nadu, it is seen as a creeping imposition of Hindi in subtle and not-so-subtle forms.

Source: The Hindu June 03, 2019 18:22 UTC