In a pointed departure from the position taken by several southern counterparts, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has defended the inclusion of Hindi in India’s education framework, calling it a tool for national integration and better communication. His remarks come amidst ongoing debates over the National Education Policy (NEP) and the contentious three-language formula, which leaders like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin have strongly opposed, citing concerns over Hindi imposition.
Speaking to India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai, Naidu argued for a more pragmatic, less emotional approach to the language issue. “Local language and mother tongue are a must — no compromise on Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, or any regional language,” he asserted. “But why can’t we learn Hindi too, to be fluent and mingle with North Indians? That’s at the national level. We need to recognise Hindi as a national language — there is nothing wrong in it.”
Naidu went on to frame the language debate in terms of opportunity and national cohesion rather than cultural imposition. “Earlier, education served local needs. But due to lack of opportunities, people migrated. Then came English — I told Bill Gates during my first meeting: India has two strengths — mathematics, and English, which the British left behind. These are a deadly combination in the Information Technology age,” he said.
He acknowledged that states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala face a linguistic disadvantage in the national capital due to limited fluency in Hindi. “Today, people from Hyderabad and North India have more advantage in Delhi because of their Hindi. Why can’t we bridge that gap?” he asked.
While Naidu did not name any leader directly, his remarks are being seen as a subtle counter to Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin, who has consistently resisted the inclusion of Hindi in schools in Tamil Nadu and government institutions, accusing the Centre of attempting cultural ‘imposition’ through the NEP.
Naidu’s comments mark a clear ideological shift from the strong anti-Hindi sentiment historically associated with many Dravidianist leaders, suggesting a more integrationist approach that prioritizes communication and mobility across states.
The debate over language policy continues to polarize political opinion across India, particularly in the South, where linguistic identity is deeply tied to cultural pride. Naidu’s nuanced stance — advocating both preservation of regional languages and acquisition of Hindi — adds a new dimension to the national discourse.
🚨 BIG STATEMENT by Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu!
🗣️ “Local languages like Telugu, Tamil, Kannada are non-negotiable. But why not learn Hindi too? It bridges the gap with North India.”
🔥 Powerful push for linguistic unity without compromise on diversity. pic.twitter.com/6AmbDnfFcH
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 10, 2025
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