[lg policy] DMK bats for ‘two-language’ policy across nation

[Harold Schiffman]

DMK bats for ‘two-language’ policy across nation
by PTI <https://hwnews.in/author/pti>June 4, 2019

Chennai | The two-language formula devised by Dravidian icon C N Annadurai
should be implemented across the country, the DMK proposed on Tuesday, a
day after the Centre dropped the contentious provision of compulsory
teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.

In an editorial, DMK mouthpiece ‘Murasoli’ demanded a “full-stop” to the
issue.

On the Centre’s decision to revise the draft National Education Policy(NEP)
to drop the three-language proposal, the party daily said this was done
following opposition to the proposal.

“The Centre has retreated. Imposing (Hindi) and retreating is their
chameleon like acting,” it said.

“The two-language policy drafted by Anna is the formula that should be
implemented in the whole of India. Journeying in the path of Anna alone
will protect Indianness,” Murasoli said in the editorial.

In Tamil Nadu, a two-language formula of Tamil and English is being
followed since 1968 after the DMK stormed to power in 1967 under the
leadership of Dravidian stalwart and party founder C N Annadurai.

Annadurai, a stalwart of the Dravidian movement and founder of the DMK, is
addressed as “Anna,” (elder brother) as a mark of respect.

Tracing the decades-old opposition to Hindi in the state, the paper accused
the BJP-led government of imposing the language and expressed apprehension
that the Centre may thrust Sanskrit in future.

“Their (BJP’s) final goal is only Sanskrit,” it alleged. Saffron party’s
precursor Jan Sangh had once said that Sanskrit should be the official
language for the whole of India, the DMK alleged.

On June 3, Stalin had said: “The announcement (by the Centre on dropping
the contentious clause mandating Hindi learning) has been made with an
intent to deceive…

“…and if there is no explanation (assuring that Hindi will not be thrust)
in two to three days, the leaders of the alliance partners here will get
together, decide and following that, Tamil Nadu will witness a massive
agitation. Be prepared.”

Revising the draft education policy, the Centre Monday dropped the
contentious provision of compulsory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking
states after the three-language proposal sparked outrage, mainly in Tamil
Nadu.

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 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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