The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, is reportedly preparing to introduce a bill banning the use of the Hindi language in Tamil Nadu. According to media sources, the proposed legislation aims to prohibit Hindi on billboards, signboards, films, and songs throughout the state, reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s long-standing commitment to linguistic and cultural autonomy.
An emergency meeting was held on Tuesday night between state ministers and legal experts to finalize the draft of the bill. The special session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, which began on October 14, is set to conclude on October 17, during which the government is also expected to present the supplementary budget estimates.
This development marks a continuation of the linguistic standoff between the DMK government and the Centre, particularly over the alleged “imposition” of Hindi in non-Hindi-speaking states. Earlier this year, in March, Chief Minister MK Stalin replaced the rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter ‘ரூ’, representing the Tamil word “rubai” (rupee), on the state budget emblem for 2025–26. The move was seen as a symbolic assertion of Tamil linguistic pride and identity.
Stalin has consistently voiced strong opposition to the Central Government’s Three-Language Policy, which he claims is an attempt to promote Hindi dominance. He maintains that Tamil Nadu’s two-language formula – Tamil and English – has been effective in promoting education, employment, and skill development. The Chief Minister has reiterated that Tamil Nadu will continue to uphold its unique linguistic policy, which has been a cornerstone of the state’s Dravidian political ideology for decades.
The Three-Language Policy, introduced under India’s National Education Policy (NEP) in 1968, was designed to encourage linguistic diversity by teaching students three languages: their regional language, Hindi, and English. In 2020, the New Education Policy (NEP 2020) revised this approach, stating that while students must learn three languages, no specific language is compulsory, allowing states and schools to decide which languages to adopt.
If passed, the proposed anti-Hindi bill could reignite national debate over language politics, cultural identity, and federalism in India. For Tamil Nadu, it would represent yet another strong message from the DMK government that the Tamil language and culture remain central to the state’s identity and governance.
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