The Hindi Imposition debate is currently one of the most hotly debated discussions happening right now. For the uninitiated, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has made a new draft about a change in the educational policy which makes Hindi a compulsory language to be learnt across all the states. The original draft made under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2019 clearly mentions that the students have to learn three languages, two of which would be English and Hindi, and third being the mother-tongue of the state or Sanskrit. Hindi Not Compulsory For Students, Modi Government Tweaks Three-Language Formula in Draft Education Policy.

However, considering Hindi is not exactly the National language (contrary to the popular belief), South states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala are objecting to what they call as 'Hindi Imposition'.

Tamilians, especially, are up in arms together against this policy, as they feel Hindi should not be made compulsory in Tamil Nadu. Even celebs are of this opinion and have made their stand clear in the public. Hindi Imposition Controversy: ‘No Language Will Be Imposed on Any State,’ Says New HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Amid Uproar in Tamil Nadu.

Among those is AR Rahman, the Oscar-winning composer, who tweeted what we can say will resonate with his Tamil Fans. He wrote:

The gist of the tweet is - "Beautiful solution - 'Hindi is not compulsory in Tamil...edited draft'. The last phrase is definitely a dig on the MHRD's new draft.

Following the outrage over the new policy change, the department has issued a change in the language of the section of this draft. It now reads, "In keeping with the principle of flexibility, students who wish to change one or more of the three languages they are studying may do so in Grade 6 or Grade 7, so long as they are able to still demonstrate proficiency in three languages (one language at the literature level) in their modular Board Examinations some time during secondary school." There is no mention here as to which languages have to be learnt, but the three-language idea is compulsory all the same.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 03, 2019 01:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).