The Hindi imposition controversy in Maharashtra has flared up again after the Devendra Fadnavis government canceled a contentious resolution on the three-language formula. The decision, which had initially sought to implement Hindi from Class 1 in Marathi and English medium schools, has now precipitated a massive political and social backlash.
A day before the Monsoon Session, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared that the government was withdrawing the language policy and constituting a committee to examine its implementation. “We are withdrawing the GR,” Fadnavis said in a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The reversal followed a strong recommendation from the Language Advisory Committee, which urged the Chief Minister to avoid introducing a third language, especially Hindi, before Class 5. The committee passed a resolution warning against early language imposition and stressed the primacy of Marathi in the state’s education system.
The Controversial Order That Sparked the Row
The row broke out after the state changed its education policy, announcing that Hindi would be “generally” taught as a third language from Classes 1 to 5. The order provided a buffer zone—if at least 20 students in each class chose another Indian language, schools could appoint a different teacher or have online classes for teaching.
Yet, Opposition parties like the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) saw the move as one that tried to push Marathi aside and favor Hindi. People soon raised their voices in protest, turning the rollback into a state-wide phenomenon.
Thackeray Cousins Reunite Over Language Protest
In an unusual political moment, estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray appeared on the same platform for the first time in almost two decades. The reunion was at a “mega victory gathering” in Mumbai to celebrate the government’s withdrawal of the Hindi mandate.
Making a dig at Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray announced, “Fadnavis has managed to do what even Bal Thackeray could not.” The remark elicited applause from party workers and marked a moment of consensus between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS on the issue of language.
Tensions Spill Over to the Streets
Street-level violence has also intensified. A video went viral where people—some of them clad in MNS scarves—attacked a food stall operator and demanded that he use Marathi. This led to counter-protests from local businessmen.
The workers of MNS retaliated by taking out a rally at Mira Road, Thane, which resulted in several detentions. Fadnavis responded to the situation strongly, saying, “Strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands.”
Amid a passionate argument, an old video of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray has surfaced. In it, he says, “I may be Marathi in Maharashtra but I am Hindu in Bharat,” reasserting his faith in giving importance to Hindutva rather than linguistic differences.