Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for the nationwide adoption of Hindi has sparked significant opposition in various Indian states, particularly Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, where the policy is seen as a threat to local languages and cultural heritage. The government of Maharashtra had to retract a policy requiring Hindi in elementary schools due to backlash from opposition politicians and residents, while Tamil Nadu has actively resisted similar mandates, even suing the central government over education policy. Despite public assertions of valuing linguistic diversity, the Modi government views the promotion of Hindi as integral to its Hindu nationalist agenda, often framing it as a move towards a 'new India' rooted in a Hindu past. This language policy has not only incited protests but also led to political realignments, as seen in Maharashtra where estranged political cousins reunited in opposition to the Hindi mandate. The controversy reflects broader tensions over national identity and cultural preservation in India's linguistically diverse landscape.

Dive Deeper:

• In Maharashtra, a state governed by Modi's party, a policy mandating Hindi in elementary schools was retracted after intense public and political backlash, highlighting the sensitivity of language policy in India.

• Tamil Nadu, known for its history of resistance to Hindi imposition, has actively opposed the central government's education policy, which it views as a means to force Hindi on its students, even going so far as to sue the central government.

• The Modi government's promotion of Hindi is part of a broader nationalist agenda to unify the country under a Hindu-first ideology, often clashing with the linguistic and cultural diversity that characterizes many Indian states.

• Despite public statements celebrating India's linguistic diversity, central government officials have criticized English as a colonial legacy and have emphasized native languages, with Hindi being central to this narrative.

• Political dynamics in Maharashtra shifted as two estranged political figures, Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, united against the Hindi mandate, showcasing how language policy can influence political alliances and strategies.

• In Tamil Nadu, the imposition of Hindi is seen as a threat to the state's Dravidian linguistic heritage, leading to widespread resistance and highlighting the cultural pride associated with the Tamil language.

• The language debate underscores the challenges of national integration in a country with over a thousand languages, where pushing a single language is perceived as a risk to cultural identity and unity.