Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has urged Maharashtra's School Education Minister, Dada Bhuse, in a letter to mandate only two languages – Marathi and English – for classes from standard one onwards in schools under the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
Mumbai: A major controversy has erupted in Maharashtra regarding school education, specifically concerning the state's language policy. A proposal to make Hindi a compulsory third language has sparked a b reaction. Expressing his concerns, MNS chief Raj Thackeray wrote a letter to the state's Education Minister, Dada Bhuse.
Questioning the government's proposal, Raj Thackeray demanded that only two languages—Marathi and English—be taught from class 1. He bly opposed including a third language, particularly Hindi, in the school curriculum, terming it an infringement on the state's linguistic autonomy.
What is the issue?
The Maharashtra government recently announced that students would be taught three languages from class 1 – Marathi, English, and Hindi. The government argued this would foster national unity and improve communication skills. However, this decision has sparked widespread opposition, particularly from Marathi-centric organizations and political parties. Concerns were raised that making Hindi compulsory would negatively impact the status and survival of the Marathi language.
What did Raj Thackeray write in his letter?
Raj Thackeray's letter explicitly stated that implementing Hindi as a compulsory third language would be detrimental to Maharashtra's culture and Marathi identity. He wrote that Maharashtra's identity is intrinsically linked to its language, and forcefully imposing Hindi would hurt the sentiments of Marathi speakers.
He also accused the government of creating ambiguity, pointing out that despite statements claiming Hindi would not be compulsory, no official Government Resolution (GR) has been issued. Thackeray warned that if the government reconsiders making Hindi compulsory, it would bear the responsibility for the consequences.
Hindi textbooks already printed!
Thackeray highlighted the surprising fact that despite the government's claim, Hindi textbooks have already been printed. This suggests, he argued, an administrative expectation that Hindi instruction will commence. He questioned why the textbooks were printed so hastily when the government's stance remained unclear.
Thackeray demanded that the education department issue clear, written instructions specifying that only Marathi and English will be taught from the first grade. He also pointed out that many Indian states already follow a two-language policy, and Maharashtra should adopt a similar model.
Language has always been a sensitive issue in Maharashtra. Parties like the MNS have consistently championed Marathi identity. Recent incidents of attacks on Hindi speakers and the “Speak Marathi” campaign have further fueled this debate.
