MK Stalin is at it again—manufacturing outrage and reviving the tired old North vs. South debate, all under the guise of “resisting” an imaginary Hindi imposition. While Tamil Nadu faces real governance challenges like crumbling infrastructure, corruption, and lawlessness, the DMK supremo seems more interested in fearmongering over language politics to divert attention from his government’s failures.
On 4 March 2025, he wrote on his X handle about the lack of an “Uttar Bharat Tamil Prachar Sabha” in the North of India. His post read, “A century has passed since the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha was set up to make South Indians learn Hindi. How many Uttar Bharat Tamil Prachar Sabhas have been established in North India in all these years? Truth is, we never demanded that North Indians must learn Tamil or any South Indian language to ‘preserve’ them. All we ask is to #StopHindiImposition on us. If BJP-ruled states want to teach 3 languages or even 30, let them! Just leave Tamil Nadu alone!”
A century has passed since the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha was set up to make South Indians learn Hindi.
How many Uttar Bharat Tamil Prachar Sabhas have been established in North India in all these years?
Truth is, we never demanded that North Indians must learn Tamil or… pic.twitter.com/mzBbSja9Op
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 4, 2025
Now that Stalin has taken up the subject of the Hindi Prachar Sabha in TN and the absence of an “Uttar Bharat Tamil Prachar Sabha – here’s the real question – What’s stopping the Tamil Nadu government from establishing Tamil Prachar Sabhas across India?
Stalin’s statements, though seemingly aimed at protecting Tamil pride, expose a glaring inconsistency in his approach to language promotion and cultural preservation.
Stalin’s rhetorical question— “How many Uttar Bharat Tamil Prachar Sabhas have been established in North India?”—is a clever diversion from the real issue: his own government’s failure to actively promote Tamil outside Tamil Nadu. If the Chief Minister is so deeply concerned about the preservation and propagation of Tamil, why hasn’t his government taken concrete steps to establish Tamil learning centers across India? After all, Tamil Nadu has a dedicated Tamil Development Ministry with substantial funds. What exactly is stopping Stalin from using these resources to set up Tamil Prachar Sabhas in North India?
Victim Card?
The answer lies in the political convenience of playing the victim card. By framing the issue as one of “Hindi imposition,” Stalin conveniently shifts the blame to the central government and BJP-ruled states, while absolving himself of any responsibility. This is not the first time a Tamil Nadu leader has used the language debate to stoke regional sentiments and consolidate votes. However, Stalin’s approach is particularly disingenuous because it lacks any genuine effort to promote Tamil beyond the borders of Tamil Nadu.
Moreover, Stalin’s argument that Tamil Nadu has never insisted on North Indians learning Tamil is a red herring. The issue isn’t about forcing anyone to learn a language; it’s about creating opportunities for cultural exchange and mutual respect. If Stalin truly believes in the richness of Tamil culture and language, why doesn’t he take the initiative to promote it nationally? The Tamil Development Ministry, with its allocated funds, could easily spearhead such efforts. But instead of using these resources to establish Tamil learning centers or cultural hubs across India, the ministry’s work remains confined to token gestures within the state.
Hindi Prachar Sabha
The Hindi Prachar Sabha, founded in 1918 by Mahatma Gandhi, was envisioned as a bridge to foster national unity through language. The intent was to create a common linguistic thread in a diverse country. Stalin’s criticism of the Sabha ignores its historical context and reduces it to a symbol of “Hindi imposition.” But if Hindi promotion is seen as an imposition, why isn’t Tamil promotion viewed as an opportunity?
The truth is, that Stalin’s rhetoric is less about protecting Tamil and more about scoring political points. By framing the language debate as a battle against Hindi imposition, he taps into the deep-rooted linguistic pride of Tamilians, while deflecting attention from his government’s failures. It’s a classic case of political opportunism, where rhetoric takes precedence over action.
If Stalin is genuinely committed to the cause of Tamil, he must move beyond empty speeches and take concrete steps to promote the language nationwide. Setting up Tamil Prachar Sabhas in North India, leveraging the Tamil Development Ministry’s funds, and fostering cultural exchanges are just a few ways he can turn his words into action. Until then, his criticism of Hindi imposition will remain nothing more than a hollow political ploy, aimed at masking his own inaction and hypocrisy.
In the end, the language debate shouldn’t be about pitting one language against another or stoking regional divides. It should be about celebrating India’s linguistic diversity and creating opportunities for mutual understanding. Unfortunately, Stalin’s approach does neither. Instead, it perpetuates division and distracts from the real issue: his government’s failure to walk the talk on Tamil promotion.
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