The debate over the imposition of the Hindi language in Maharashtra's school curriculum has taken a political turn, as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has written a strongly worded letter to School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. Thackeray’s letter raises serious objections to the state's move to introduce Hindi as a compulsory subject from Class 1 and has reignited the language controversy in the state.
In his letter, Raj Thackeray accused the government of creating confusion by allegedly mandating Hindi from the very first grade. He warned the state administration that if a clear and written order confirming the teaching of only two languages is not issued soon, the MNS will launch a protest. His remarks have caused a stir within the Education Department and intensified the ongoing discourse around language education.
For the past two months, the state has witnessed growing opposition to the government's proposal to implement a three-language formula in primary schools, making Hindi mandatory alongside Marathi and English. Public sentiment, largely fueled by MNS's aggressive stance, forced the government to clarify that Hindi would not be compulsory. However, a formal government resolution confirming this change has yet to be issued, prompting fresh concerns from the MNS.
Raj Thackeray stated, "Hindi is not our national language. It is one of the regional languages, just like others. Why was it being imposed? I don’t understand under whose pressure the government was acting." He questioned the rationale behind introducing three languages at the primary level, especially when children are just beginning their academic journey.
Although Education Minister Dada Bhuse later announced that students would be taught only two languages from Class 1, the lack of official documentation has led to suspicions. The MNS is now openly questioning whether the state government is acting under external pressure or influence.
With Raj Thackeray’s latest intervention, the issue is expected to take center stage in state politics once again. It remains to be seen how the Maharashtra government will respond to the MNS’s demands and whether a written clarification will be issued to settle the debate. Until then, political tensions around the language issue are likely to escalate.