KKN Gurugram Desk | A new language policy introduced by the Maharashtra government has ignited a major political row across the state, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties, regional activists, and language-rights groups. At the heart of the controversy lies the role of Hindi as the third language in schools, a provision that many see as an attempt to undermine Marathi linguistic identity.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the issue on Wednesday, clarifying that the government has withdrawn the mandatory status of Hindi, and students are now free to choose any Indian language as the third language under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

What Is Maharashtra’s Three-Language Policy?

The state’s updated language framework, released as part of the State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024, is in line with NEP 2020. The key features of the policy include:

• Marathi remains compulsory in all schools (Marathi and English medium alike).

• English and one additional Indian language must be taught from Grade 1 to Grade 5.

• Hindi is not compulsory but is considered the default third language unless students choose otherwise.

The initial version of the order referred to Hindi as the third language “in general,” sparking fears that it was being imposed quietly under the radar.

Fadnavis: “Students Can Choose Any Indian Language”

Following the backlash, CM Devendra Fadnavis clarified that students are no longer obligated to learn Hindi. Addressing the media in Pune, he said:

“We had earlier made Hindi compulsory, but that mandate has now been removed. As per the new government order, students can opt for any Indian language as their third language.”

He emphasized that the three-language formula under NEP gives students the option to learn in their mother tongue along with two other languages, of which at least one should be Indian. Fadnavis also highlighted that the controversy was “unnecessary” and driven by misinformation.

Key Details of the Government Resolution (GR)

The updated Government Resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday outlines the following:

• Hindi is no longer mandatory but will be taught “generally” as the third language.

• If 20 or more students in a class opt for another Indian language (e.g., Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, etc.), the school is obliged to provide a teacher or online instruction in that language.

• Marathi remains non-negotiable and compulsory in every school across the state.

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray’s Strong Objection

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the policy. In a press conference, he slammed the government for attempting to “impose Hindi” and accused it of pursuing a divisive linguistic agenda.

“Why is there a need to thrust Hindi upon young children?” Thackeray asked. “Students who want to learn Hindi already do so voluntarily. There’s no need to include it at the primary level as a default language.”

Thackeray alleged that the state was operating under a “covert central agenda” to promote Hindi at the expense of regional languages. He called on schools to resist any pressure from the government and to continue with the traditional Marathi-English dual-language formula.

Congress Alleges “Backdoor Imposition” of Hindi

The Maharashtra Congress unit echoed similar sentiments. Party state president Harshvardhan Sapkal described the policy as a “well-planned conspiracy” to promote Hindi and said it undermined the essence of the National Education Policy, which emphasizes local and regional languages.

“The so-called choice in the third language is a smokescreen. In practice, Hindi is being pushed in through the backdoor,” Sapkal claimed.

He further accused the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance (Mahayuti) of betraying the people of Maharashtra, particularly its linguistic and cultural sentiments.

Marathi Language Supporters Split on the Policy

While some Marathi language activists initially appreciated the optional approach, others have voiced suspicion over the phrasing used in the GR — especially the phrase “Hindi will be generally taught as the third language.” Critics argue that this may lead to Hindi being implemented as the default, with opt-out being a bureaucratic burden for schools and students.

Activists warned that this would amount to a subtle form of language imposition, where Marathi’s primacy could gradually be diluted in a bilingual or trilingual education environment.

NEP and the Role of Mother Tongue in Education

Fadnavis defended the state’s approach by highlighting the transformative potential of the NEP 2020, which aims to promote mother tongue and regional languages as mediums of instruction.

“English may be the language of communication, but Indian languages are far superior in expressing knowledge,” he said. “Under NEP, Marathi has now become a language of knowledge.”

Fadnavis cited examples where engineering, MBA, and medical education are now being offered in Marathi in various colleges across Maharashtra. According to him, this aligns with the vision of making Marathi a global academic language.

Online Learning Option for Minority Languages

The GR also includes an important provision for linguistic diversity. If students choose a less commonly spoken Indian language, and the school is unable to arrange for a full-time teacher, the language can be offered through online platforms or remote instruction — a move that many see as a progressive step toward inclusivity.

This opens the door for multilingual education even in smaller schools and rural areas where access to language-specific faculty is often a challenge.

Political Implications for the Ruling Coalition

The controversy comes at a sensitive time, with assembly elections in Maharashtra on the horizon. Critics believe the move could alienate both Marathi pride voters and non-Marathi-speaking communities, depending on how the policy is interpreted.

For Fadnavis and the ruling Mahayuti government, balancing national educational goals with regional linguistic sentiments will be crucial to avoiding electoral backlash.

The Maharashtra three-language policy controversy underlines the delicate balance between education reforms and regional identity politics. While the state government insists that it is following NEP guidelines with ample flexibility, the mixed messaging has created room for political interpretation and agitation.

What was intended as an inclusive and adaptive policy has quickly snowballed into a language war — one where education, identity, and politics are deeply entwined.

Whether this new policy proves to be a model for linguistic inclusivity or a flashpoint for cultural tension will depend on how transparently and sensitively it is implemented in the months ahead.