In a recent interview with Karan Thapar on The Wire, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan (PTR), showcased a level of arrogance and hypocrisy that has become emblematic of the DMK’s approach to governance and policy. While defending Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy and opposing the National Education Policy (NEP), PTR’s arguments were riddled with contradictions, elitism, and a blatant disregard for facts. Here’s a breakdown of why his stance is not just flawed but deeply hypocritical.
Pompous Arrogance: Dismissing Experts And Interviewers Alike
Barely minutes into the interview, PTR, as expected, kicked off his usual self-promotion tour—this time by flashing his holy grail of credentials from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.
PTR’s interview was a masterclass in condescension. He dismissed Yogendra Yadav, a respected academic and political analyst, by saying, “I don’t have any emphasis or value on Mr. Yadav’s opinion compared to any of the remaining 1.4 billion people in the state.” He went further, implying that even Karan Thapar, a seasoned journalist, was unqualified to discuss education policy because he lacks a Ph.D. He said, “Even you, I say are not erudite enough, you are not a PhD in education, you are not a man who has done 10 years of research, even if you tell me that you think the three-language formula is right, I said that is not adequate for me. We have 70 years of data, we have 70 years of outcomes and certainly neither you nor Yogendra Yadav nor anybody in this Union government has the scientific qualifications nor even the people who formed the NEP have the basis of data points around the world to tell us, why a three language formula given the resource constraints that we all have we are a developing country we have limitations in our school system why should we move to a policy because you say so.”
PTR’s dismissal of well-researched arguments and his condescending tone toward Karan Thapar reflect an elitist mindset. Instead of engaging with constructive criticism, PTR chose to belittle his interlocutors, suggesting that only those with a Ph.D. in education are qualified to comment on policy. This is not just arrogant but also anti-democratic. Policymaking should be open to scrutiny and debate, not confined to a self-appointed elite.
Insulting Children Of Uttar Pradesh And Hindi-Speaking States
One of the most jarring moments in the interview was PTR’s demeaning remarks about children in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He asked, “How many children in Uttar Pradesh know three languages? How many children in Bihar know two languages?” This not only reeks of elitism but also ignores the systemic issues plaguing education in these states. Instead of addressing the root causes of educational disparities, PTR used these states as punching bags to justify Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy. Such rhetoric is divisive and undermines the spirit of federalism.
PTR’s comments about Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were not just factually incorrect but also deeply insensitive. It is noteworthy that with the implementation of the NEP, children in UP are learning languages such as Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.
Additionally, the people of UP are not just conversant in Hindi but the various dialects and languages of adjoining states and regions.
By mocking these states, PTR ignored the broader context of India’s educational inequities. His remarks also revealed his deep-seated bias against Hindi-speaking states, which is ironic given Tamil Nadu’s claims of being a progressive and inclusive society.
Hypocrisy Of DMK Politicians Running CBSE Schools
If the two-language policy is so superior, why do DMK politicians run and send their children to CBSE schools that follow a three-language formula? The Commune had earlier reported on the many schools run by DMK politicians that follow the NEP curriculum and offer 3 languages to the students as a part of the curriculum which includes Hindi.
Chief Minister MK Stalin’s daughter runs a CBSE school that offers Hindi as a part of the curriculum in Chennai. DMK MP Kathir Anand runs a CBSE school near Vellore, DMK MLA GV Markandeyan is one of the managing trustees of a CBSE school named Sri Ambal Vidhyalaya in Vilathikulam, Thoothukudi. This is an English-medium CBSE school.
You can read the entire list of schools run by DMK members here.
The DMK’s opposition to the three-language policy is not just hypocritical but also detrimental to Tamil Nadu’s students. While PTR’s children enjoy the benefits of a world-class education that includes multiple languages, the children of ordinary Tamilians are denied the same opportunities. This elitism is a hallmark of the DMK’s approach to governance: one set of rules for the privileged, and another for the rest.
The Real Issue: Chickening Out Of The SSA Agreement
PTR and Karan Thapar conveniently sidestepped the core issue: Tamil Nadu’s refusal to sign the agreement required to access Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds. The central government’s condition for releasing ₹2,400 crore was not an imposition but a contractual obligation. By refusing to sign, the DMK government has effectively chickened out of its responsibilities, leaving Tamil Nadu’s schools underfunded. The SSA funds are crucial for improving infrastructure, teacher training, and learning outcomes in Tamil Nadu’s schools. By refusing to sign the agreement, the DMK government has deprived its own students of these resources. PTR’s grandstanding about “extortion” is a smokescreen to hide his government’s failure to negotiate in good faith.
The central government’s conditions are standard practice for ensuring accountability and alignment with national educational goals. The real issue is the DMK’s unwillingness to compromise on its ideological stance, even at the cost of Tamil Nadu’s children.
Three-Language Policy: Proven Success In India And Abroad
PTR’s claim that the two-language policy is superior is not backed by evidence. States like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka, which implement a three-language policy, consistently outperform Tamil Nadu in learning outcomes, as evidenced by the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). Reading levels of students in TN were much below “Hindi” speaking states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
Andhra Pradesh, Kerala – where three language policy has been the norm show better reading skills among students compared to those of TN.
These states have created a more robust educational ecosystem by embracing multilingualism, which enhances cognitive abilities and cultural understanding.
Internationally, countries like Israel have successfully implemented multilingual education. Hebrew, Arabic, and English are taught in Israeli schools, fostering national unity and global competitiveness. High schools also offer additional foreign languages like French, Russian, or Spanish. Germany mandates learning a second foreign language in secondary school, effectively implementing a three-language policy. France also requires students to learn French and two other languages. These examples prove that multilingual policies exist globally for national and global competitiveness.
Even within India, the three-language policy has been a cornerstone of the education system for decades, with states like Maharashtra and Gujarat reaping its benefits.
DMK’s Hypocrisy: Elite Education For Their Children
The ultimate irony lies in the educational choices of DMK leaders. While PTR’s children, Palani and Vel, studied at The American School in Chennai, an institution that emphasizes multilingualism and global education, other DMK politicians send their kids to elite institutions that prioritize multilingualism and global exposure.
PTR’s interview was a missed opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue about education policy. Instead, it exposed the DMK’s arrogance, hypocrisy, and disregard for evidence-based policymaking. By dismissing experts, insulting children from other states, and refusing to acknowledge the success of the three-language policy, PTR has revealed the hollowness of the DMK’s stance.
If Tamil Nadu is to truly excel in education, it must move beyond divisive rhetoric and embrace policies that prepare its students for a globalized world. The DMK’s two-language policy is not just outdated; it’s a disservice to the very people it claims to protect. It’s time for PTR and his party to stop playing politics with education and start prioritizing the future of Tamil Nadu’s children.
Education should either instill humility or eradicate ignorance—unfortunately, for PTR, it has done neither.
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