Stalin urges PM Modi to avoid conducting Hindi language events in non-Hindi-speaking States
In a pointed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged the Union government to reconsider its decision to hold Hindi language-oriented events in non-Hindi speaking states.
Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his concerns regarding the combined celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Chennai Doordarshan and the culmination of Hindi Month on October 18.
The event will be presided over by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi.
Chief Minister Stalin’s letter highlights a growing concern amongst regional leaders regarding the promotion of Hindi in states where it is not the primary language. He emphasised that the Indian Constitution does not grant national language status to any language, noting that Hindi and English are used primarily for official purposes.
“In a multilingual country like India, according special status to Hindi and celebrating Hindi Month in non-Hindi speaking states is seen as an attempt to belittle other languages,” Stalin wrote.
The Chief Minister proposed that the Union government should avoid organising such Hindi-focused celebrations in states where Hindi is not widely spoken. He suggested that if the government insists on proceeding with these events, it should also celebrate local languages in respective states with equal warmth.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Stalin encouraged the Government of India to host special events that celebrate the richness of all classical languages recognised in the country. Such initiatives, he argued, could enhance cordial relationships amongst different linguistic communities, promoting unity in diversity.
The controversy surrounding the promotion of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking regions underscores the broader debate about language and identity in India.