Former Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu, stirred discussion with his remarks on the importance of learning Hindi during the celebration of Shankar IAS Academy’s recent achievements in Chennai.
Mr. Naidu, known for his advocacy for linguistic harmony, highlighted the significance of Hindi while stressing the importance of one’s mother tongue and local languages.
At the event, which celebrated the Academy’s success in coaching students for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examinations, Mr. Naidu remarked, ‘If you don’t learn Hindi, you will be missing out on opportunities at the national level.’
Mixed Reactions
The Former Vice President’s statement was interpreted by some as an endorsement of Hindi over regional languages, leading to a mixed response from the public and political figures alike.
Tamil Nadu’s Minister for School Education, Anbil Mahesh, expressed his surprise at Mr. Naidu’s comments, stating, ‘It’s astonishing that Venkaiah Naidu, who has often emphasized the importance of the mother tongue, now says that one can only survive in Delhi if they know Hindi.’
Mr. Naidu, however, clarified that his remarks were not intended to undermine any language. He reiterated his long-standing principle of ‘no imposition, no opposition’ when it comes to language policy in India.
Mr. Naidu’s remarks have reignited the debate on language policy in India, particularly the role of Hindi in a country with a multitude of languages. While some see Hindi as a unifying national language, others view the promotion of Hindi as potentially diminishing India’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
The celebration at Shankar IAS Academy was meant to honor the students who had achieved notable ranks in the civil services examinations. The Academy, known for its comprehensive coaching for IAS aspirants, has branches across several cities but is particularly renowned in Chennai for its success rate.