In a sharply worded editorial, Saamana, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has lashed out at both the Central and Maharashtra state governments over the controversial push to mandate Hindi in school education. The editorial celebrates the recent withdrawal of the Hindi language requirement as a victory of Marathi unity, claiming the pressure from a united Marathi front forced the government to back down.
“The lava of Marathi unity has erupted in Maharashtra,” Saamana declared, “and the Fadnavis government was compelled to withdraw the Hindi compulsion law. This is a resounding victory for all those who stood for Marathi pride.”
The editorial accuses the Modi government of attempting to impose Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP), which proposes the inclusion of Hindi from Class 1 under the three-language formula. Saamana argues that this policy met with resistance across the country and that adding another mandatory subject only increases pressure on young schoolchildren.
“The burden of language cannot be placed on the backs and brains of children,” the editorial stated. “This is not an age for burden-bearing, and yet, what can we expect from a government that itself has become a burden on the nation?”
While clarifying that the protest is not against the Hindi language itself, Saamana emphasized that cinema and music have played a key role in spreading Hindi across India and globally. However, it said the core issue is about “imposition”—not appreciation. “The Marathi people have clearly stated: Hindi should not be forced upon our children through schools,” the piece said.
The editorial also pointed to what it calls hypocrisy in the implementation of the policy. “States like Tamil Nadu and others in the south have already rejected the three-language formula. In north Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar—where Hindi is already the first language—what is the third language being taught? If they truly believe in the policy, why not choose Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, or Malayalam as their third language?”
In a stinging critique, Saamana questioned why Hindi was being pushed in Maharashtra when even Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat had not accepted it under the same policy. The editorial accused the BJP and RSS of trying to implement a cultural agenda under the guise of educational reform.
The editorial also criticized the Maharashtra government’s decision to appoint a committee, headed by Dr. Narendra Jadhav, to study the implementation of the three-language formula. “Once Maharashtra has rejected the Central Government's formula, what purpose does this committee serve? Marathi will remain the first language of Maharashtra, and English will remain the global language of knowledge. The rest should be left to the students and their parents,” it said.
Referencing historical pride, Saamana noted, “The language of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was Marathi. He established Swarajya wielding the divine sword of this very language. This should be the guiding principle for the medium of education.”
It further accused the BJP government of trying to derail the Marathi education system with "Operation Hindi", likening it to earlier failed political strategies. “Maharashtra rose as one in protest, and the government was forced to retreat. Whether or not Hindi is a national language is a separate issue—but who gave you the right to impose it?” it asked.
The editorial concluded with a sobering reflection on the state of education and unemployment. “While Marathi schools are shutting down here, thousands of Hindi schools are closing in the north. The Modi and Fadnavis governments should focus on fixing this collapsing education system rather than burdening children. For now, this oppression has been halted—thanks to the unwavering unity of the Marathi people. Salute to this Marathi unity.”