The ongoing debate over language politics in Tamil Nadu took a fresh turn after Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan accused Tamil Nadu leaders over the ongoing language debate. He questioned why Tamil politicians opposed the imposition of Hindi while allowing Tamil films to be dubbed into Hindi for commercial gain.
In response, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) dismissed Kalyan’s remarks, calling them an "hollow understanding" of Tamil Nadu’s language policy. DMK spokesperson Dr Syed Hafeezullah clarified that the state does not oppose learning Hindi but resists its forced imposition through policies like the National Education Policy (NEP).
DMK’s Response to Pawan Kalyan’s Statement
Pawan Kalyan, founder of the Janasena Party and a key ally of the BJP, argued that Tamil leaders have a double standard when it comes to Hindi. He questioned why they benefit financially from Hindi-dubbed Tamil films but oppose Hindi as a language.
"I do not understand why some criticise Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi-what kind of logic is that?" Kalyan said.
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The DMK countered this claim, stating that Tamil Nadu has never opposed individuals learning Hindi voluntarily. The issue, they argue, arises when the Central government tries to impose Hindi through educational policies such as NEP or PM SHRI schools.
Senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan reinforced this stance, stating, "We have been opposing Hindi since 1938. We had passed legislation in the state assembly that Tamil Nadu will always follow the two-language formula because of the advice and suggestions of the experts in education, not actors. The bill was passed way back in 1968 when Pawan Kalyan was not even born. He doesn't know the politics of Tamil Nadu. This is not the first time we have opposed Hindi because we feel that education in the mother tongue is the best way of training people. He (Pawan Kalyan) wants to somehow support the BJP so that he can gain something out of the BJP government," he said.
BJP Backs Pawan Kalyan’s Remarks
The BJP came out in support of Pawan Kalyan, arguing that Hindi should be actively promoted in the southern states. BJP leader Vikram Randhawa said, "Hindi is our national language, and the government is working to ensure it reaches the masses. Unfortunately, previous governments have tried to suppress the culture of nationalism. The use of Hindi should be implemented strongly in the South as well."
The language debate remains a contentious issue in Tamil Nadu, where opposition to Hindi has deep historical roots.