The Telangana government has announced that Telugu will be a mandatory subject in all schools across the state. This rule will apply to all schools, including those affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The decision aims to ensure that students learn their mother tongue or, in the case of students from outside the state, the regional language.

To make learning easier, the government has also decided to simplify the syllabus for students in Classes 9 and 10. Starting from the 2025/26 academic year, Class 9 students will learn a ‘simple Telugu’ syllabus instead of ‘standard Telugu.’ This change will also apply to Class 10 students from 2026/27 onwards. The simplified syllabus will help students whose mother tongue is not Telugu.

Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the Three-Language Policy

The decision in Telangana comes at a time when Tamil Nadu is strongly opposing the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP). The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party in Tamil Nadu has criticised the NEP for allegedly imposing Hindi on students. Tamil Nadu follows a two-language system where students learn only English and Tamil. The state government believes this system is sufficient, especially since Tamil Nadu has produced high-achieving students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Historically, Tamil Nadu has resisted attempts to introduce Hindi in schools. Protests against Hindi imposition date back to the 1930s and 1960s, leading to violent riots. This opposition continues today, with the state’s leaders calling the NEP an attempt to force Hindi on Tamil students.

Political dispute between Tamil Nadu and the central government

The issue became more serious when Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that Tamil Nadu would not get ₹2,400 crore in education funds if it did not follow the three-language policy. He explained that the central government is fully supporting the National Education Policy (NEP) and that states must meet certain requirements to receive the funds.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reacted strongly to this statement. He called it an act of “blackmail” and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the central government of violating cooperative federalism. Stalin also warned that withholding funds would harm students and schools in the state.

His son, Tamil Nadu’s Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, also criticised the central government. He said that non-Hindi-speaking states could “lose their mother tongue” if they accepted the three-language policy. He also reminded the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that Tamil Nadu had successfully resisted previous attempts to impose Hindi.

“This is a Dravidian land... the land of Periyar,” Udhayanidhi Stalin declared, referring to social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, who fought against Hindi imposition. He warned that if the central government tried to impose Hindi again, people would respond with stronger protests, similar to the ‘Go Back Modi’ campaign during past elections.

The BJP’s stand on the Three-Language Policy

The BJP has defended the NEP, saying that Tamil Nadu’s government is spreading false information. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Nowhere in the NEP have we suggested there will be an imposition of any particular language in any particular state.” He claimed that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to implement the policy but later changed its decision for political reasons.

The BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit has announced a campaign to promote the three-language policy. The campaign will begin on March 1, with party members going door-to-door to explain the benefits of learning multiple languages. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai accused the DMK of clinging to an “outdated” policy from the 1960s. “The world is developing rapidly. And what is the point of imposing your outdated policy of the 1960s on the children of Tamil Nadu?” he asked.

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