Maharashtra Language Panel Pushes Back on Hindi Mandate as CM Defends Marathi

A state-appointed language advisory panel in Maharashtra has called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to reverse a decision requiring Hindi as a mandatory third language for students in grades 1 to 5. The move follows the state’s adoption of the three-language formula outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP), which mandates Hindi in Marathi and English-medium schools.

In a letter sent Sunday, Laxmikant Deshmukh, head of the language consultation committee, criticized the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) for bypassing the panel’s input before enforcing the Hindi requirement. The committee argued that the NEP emphasizes education in the mother tongue and does not mandate any specific language, making the Hindi directive unnecessary. The letter further stated that Hindi should be minimally used, as it is not a language tied to employment, prestige, or knowledge, and urged the government to reconsider its stance.

Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), have accused the government of imposing Hindi on the state. Addressing these concerns, Fadnavis, speaking to reporters in Pune on Sunday, rejected claims of Hindi imposition, emphasizing that Marathi remains compulsory. “It’s incorrect to suggest Hindi is being forced. Marathi is mandatory in Maharashtra, and there’s no other obligation,” he said.

Fadnavis clarified that the NEP requires two of the three languages taught to be Indian languages, with Marathi already mandatory. He noted that Hindi was chosen due to the availability of teachers, unlike other regional languages such as Tamil, Malayalam, or Gujarati, where teacher shortages pose challenges. He also questioned the public’s preference for English over Indian languages, asking why Hindi and other native languages are often viewed as less valuable.