DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran has condemned some states in India for encouraging students to study only Hindi while discouraging them from learning English. Speaking at an event, he claimed that this approach limits students’ opportunities, affects their job prospects, and even leads to migration to southern states like Tamil Nadu in search of better employment.

Maran said that in certain states, students are told not to study English and are warned that doing so will “ruin” their future. He added that such policies could keep students “as slaves,” suggesting that restricting education to one language holds back their growth and opportunities. His remarks are likely to reopen debates about the imposition of Hindi in education.

He pointed out that people move from northern states to the south because southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, have focused on providing good education for all. Maran highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s emphasis on education has attracted many top global companies to the state. He also praised the Dravidian model of education, which promotes equal access to schooling for both boys and girls. According to him, this has helped improve literacy rates and increased workforce participation, particularly among women.

Maran said discouraging English education limits students’ future prospects, acting as a barrier to employment and growth. He argued that language-based restrictions are holding back progress in some states, while states like Tamil Nadu continue to develop because they focus on inclusive education.

The BJP responded sharply to Maran’s comments. Party leader Thirupathy Narayanan said Maran lacked “common sense” and demanded that he apologise to the people of India, especially Hindi-speaking communities, whom Maran had allegedly portrayed as uneducated and uncivilised.

Defending Maran, DMK leader TKS Elangovan said that northern states often fail to empower women, while Tamil Nadu has always worked to improve education, employment, and rights for women. He added that wherever Congress is ruling, there is a focus on women’s education and empowerment.

In short, Maran blamed Hindi-only education in some states for unemployment and migration, while praising Tamil Nadu’s inclusive approach, leading to a heated exchange between DMK and BJP.