New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has firmly expressed his opposition to the imposition of the Hindi language amid the ongoing discussions surrounding the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. During a conclave hosted by India Today, he emphasized that individuals should have the autonomy to choose a language based on their needs rather than being compelled to learn it.
Revanth stated, “There is no necessity to force individuals into language acquisition.” He argued that people can acquire any language voluntarily, citing the availability of options such as French, German, and Sanskrit in college curricula. “If one wishes to learn, they can do so,” he remarked.
While recognizing Hindi as the most widely spoken language in India, the Chief Minister clarified that it does not hold the status of a “national” language. He noted, “Hindi is the most spoken language, followed by Telugu and Bengali. If Prime Minister Modi is genuinely concerned about promoting Hindi, what initiatives has he undertaken to support Telugu?” He also highlighted that civil service examinations are no longer offered in Telugu, despite its prevalence.
Revanth questioned the preferential status given to Hindi, asking, “Why is Hindi being imposed upon us?” When the moderator proposed that learning Hindi could be made optional, he replied, “There is no objection to making Hindi an optional language. I am speaking in Hindi today because I learned it. However, we do not want Hindi to be forced upon us.”
He contended that individuals will learn languages according to their requirements. “We have acquired proficiency in English, even though it is not our native language, for purposes of employment and business. What advantages do we gain from learning Hindi?” he inquired, adding that his knowledge of Hindi has been beneficial in his political career, humorously noting, “It has aided me in my critiques of Modi.”
The discussion regarding language policy was initiated when the BJP-led Union government requested that Tamil Nadu implement a three-language policy, incorporating Hindi, in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP). The Union government also indicated that it would withhold funding unless the state adhered to this requirement. In contrast, Tamil Nadu has maintained a two-language policy, consisting of English and Tamil, for many years and has consequently dismissed the Union’s demand, resulting in heightened tensions between the Union government and the DMK-led state administration.
