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"Do not touch the mother tongue even if you touch the tiger!" Vairamuthu on Hindi imposition!

By TNSCorrespondent, 12 October, 2022
Vairamuthu, MK Stalin, Hindi imposition

(This article is authored by Alar) 

Numerous political parties and individuals are opposing the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Official Language's recommendation that Hindi instruction has to be mandated in all educational institutions, including the IITs. In line with the wave of condemnation against the move of coercing Hindi which sparked a fresh round of debate, popular lyricist Vairamuthu has slammed the Centre and urged not to touch language. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah heads the Committee on Official Language and he submitted the report to President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday concerning the recommendation, which has triggered outrage from the opposition parties which claim that the Centre is again initiating its drive to impose Hindi, which will oppress the identity of other languages. 

Condemning the recommendation, Vairamuthu, who is the staunch critic of Hindi imposition, urged not to touch the language even if the Centre touches the tiger. Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Vairamuthu wrote, "None of the folks who ruled us—Muslims, Telugus, Marathas, or Telugu speakers imposed their mother tongue on us. Why should Hindi be mandated while Tamils are in power in Tamil Nadu? I say it with love to the authorities, please. Do not touch the mother tongue even if you touch the tiger". 

Earlier on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin spoke out against the linguistic oppression. He cited the recommendation as a direct onslaught on India's soul. He wrote, "The rigorous thrust by Union BJP government for #HindiImposition, negating the diversity of India is happening at an alarming pace. The proposals made in the 11th volume of the report of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language are a direct onslaught on India’s soul." 

In additament to Stalin, it is worth noting that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a combative letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, saying any attempt to impose a common language "did not augur well for our cooperative federal set-up." He asserted that higher educational institutions cannot be forced to use Hindi as their primary language of instruction.

 

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