The Crossbill News Desk
The BJP-led Maharashtra government has once again found itself at the centre of a political storm after issuing a revised order regarding the teaching of Hindi as a third language in schools.
The new directive states that while Hindi will “generally” be offered as the third language in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools, it is no longer “mandatory.” Students can opt for another Indian language, provided at least 20 students per grade in a school make such a request, Deccan Herald reported.
The decision has sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties, who view it as an attempt by the government to impose Hindi and undermine the prominence of Marathi in the state’s education system.
Maharashtra Congress President Harshavarshan Sapkal slammed the move, calling it part of the BJP and RSS’s broader agenda.
“This agenda of ‘One Nation, One Language, One Culture’ of the RSS and BJP has risen to the core of Maharashtra and we will not sit idly by until it is rejected,” Sapkal said.
He added that the decision was a betrayal by the ruling alliance and accused the state’s Deputy Chief Ministers of prioritising power over regional interests.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also entered the fray. Party chief Raj Thackeray issued a strongly worded open letter to school principals across the state, urging them not to support what he called the government’s hidden agenda.
“While we are raising this issue with you, we have also sent a similar letter to the government. We have firmly told the government that we need a written letter stating that Hindi language or any third language in general will not be taught. They may or may not issue such a letter, but if your actions support the government’s hidden agenda, we will surely consider it as a betrayal of Maharashtra,” he wrote n his letter.
“Do keep in mind that there is growing discontent in Maharashtra regarding this imposition of languages! Word to the wise! What more can I say?,” he added.
In response to the mounting criticism, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the element of “compulsion” had been removed from the policy. He said the government’s intent was to offer students the opportunity to learn any Indian language under the three-language formula mandated by the National Education Policy (NEP).
“While English is widely pushed, Indian languages are neglected. Raj Thackeray had asked for two languages, but NEP prescribes three. We’ve ensured Hindi is not compulsory — any Indian language can be opted for if 20 students choose it,” Fadnavis said.
This is not the first time the state government has had to roll back its decision on the issue. In April, following widespread backlash, the Education Department announced that the word “mandatory” would be removed from the earlier notification that had made Hindi compulsory as a third language.
School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse had then assured that while the three-language formula would stay, schools would be required to accommodate other language choices if requested by a sufficient number of students.
Despite the clarifications, the controversy highlights a growing concern among regional parties and civil society over what they perceive as linguistic imposition by the Centre, and a continued erosion of Marathi’s prominence in Maharashtra’s cultural and administrative spheres.
The new directive states that while Hindi will “generally” be offered as the third language in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools, it is no longer “mandatory.” Students can opt for another Indian language, provided at least 20 students per grade in a school make such a request, Deccan Herald reported.
The decision has sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties, who view it as an attempt by the government to impose Hindi and undermine the prominence of Marathi in the state’s education system.
Maharashtra Congress President Harshavarshan Sapkal slammed the move, calling it part of the BJP and RSS’s broader agenda.
“This agenda of ‘One Nation, One Language, One Culture’ of the RSS and BJP has risen to the core of Maharashtra and we will not sit idly by until it is rejected,” Sapkal said.
He added that the decision was a betrayal by the ruling alliance and accused the state’s Deputy Chief Ministers of prioritising power over regional interests.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also entered the fray. Party chief Raj Thackeray issued a strongly worded open letter to school principals across the state, urging them not to support what he called the government’s hidden agenda.
“While we are raising this issue with you, we have also sent a similar letter to the government. We have firmly told the government that we need a written letter stating that Hindi language or any third language in general will not be taught. They may or may not issue such a letter, but if your actions support the government’s hidden agenda, we will surely consider it as a betrayal of Maharashtra,” he wrote n his letter.
“Do keep in mind that there is growing discontent in Maharashtra regarding this imposition of languages! Word to the wise! What more can I say?,” he added.
In response to the mounting criticism, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the element of “compulsion” had been removed from the policy. He said the government’s intent was to offer students the opportunity to learn any Indian language under the three-language formula mandated by the National Education Policy (NEP).
“While English is widely pushed, Indian languages are neglected. Raj Thackeray had asked for two languages, but NEP prescribes three. We’ve ensured Hindi is not compulsory — any Indian language can be opted for if 20 students choose it,” Fadnavis said.
This is not the first time the state government has had to roll back its decision on the issue. In April, following widespread backlash, the Education Department announced that the word “mandatory” would be removed from the earlier notification that had made Hindi compulsory as a third language.
School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse had then assured that while the three-language formula would stay, schools would be required to accommodate other language choices if requested by a sufficient number of students.
Despite the clarifications, the controversy highlights a growing concern among regional parties and civil society over what they perceive as linguistic imposition by the Centre, and a continued erosion of Marathi’s prominence in Maharashtra’s cultural and administrative spheres.
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