Is learning Hindi as a third language necessary? Premium

Yogendra Yadav and T.M. Krishna discuss NEP’s strong pitch for a three-language formula and the fear, especially in Tamil Nadu, that there is an attempt being made to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking States

The National Education Policy, 2020, encourages students up to at least Class 5 to learn a regional language in addition to the local language or mother tongue and English. While the Central government asserts that the choice of the additional regional language is left to the States, the NEP’s strong pitch for the three-language formula has led to fear, especially in Tamil Nadu, that there is an attempt being made to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking States. This week, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin dubbed the NEP a “Hindutva policy” aimed at promoting Hindi, rather than focusing on India’s overall development. Is learning Hindi as a third language necessary? Yogendra Yadav and T.M. Krishna discuss the question in a conversation moderated by K.V. Prasad. Edited excerpts:

Yogendra Yadav, psephologist and founding national president of Swaraj India; T.M. Krishna, carnatic musician and author