Language matters in India: Learn many, but do not impose any

In a diverse and multilingual nation such as India, language policy remains a sensitive and consequential matter. The recent resurgence of language tensions in Tamil Nadu over Hindi demonstrates how linguistic identity continues to shape regional politics and national unity. This cultural flashpoint reveals deeper truths about India's federal structure and the delicate balance required to maintain national cohesion while respecting regional identities.

That is why the recrudescence of Tamil Nadu's language war against Hindi in the light of the Ministry of Education’s insistence on the implementation of the three-language formula in the state does not augur well. I have argued in the past that Hindi should not be imposed on any of the South Indian states, but especially not on Tamil Nadu. Because the very foundation of the state was based on a language movement.