Maharashtra – The Maharashtra government has taken a significant step back from its controversial language policy by canceling the 3 Language Policy Resolution following intense political opposition and allegations of Hindi imposition. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of an expert committee to deliberate on the future of language education in the state’s schools.
Government Cancels Two Key Resolutions
In a major policy reversal, the Maharashtra government has officially canceled two government resolutions related to the 3 Language Policy Resolution. The decision came after a state Cabinet meeting where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that both the April 16 and June 17 government resolutions would be withdrawn immediately.
The 3 Language Policy Resolution controversy began when the state government issued its first resolution on April 16, making Hindi a compulsory third language for students in classes 1 to 5 studying in English and Marathi medium schools. This initial 3 Language Policy Resolution sparked immediate backlash from opposition parties and language activists who viewed it as an attempt to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking populations.
Following the criticism, the government issued a revised 3 Language Policy Resolution on June 17, which stated that Hindi would “generally” be the third language but not mandatory for classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools. However, this modification failed to quell the controversy surrounding the 3 Language Policy Resolution.
Expert Committee Formation to Review Policy
Chief Minister Fadnavis announced that a committee would be formed under the leadership of renowned educationist Dr. Narendra Jadhav to comprehensively review the 3 Language Policy Resolution. This expert panel has been tasked with determining crucial aspects of language education implementation in Maharashtra schools.
The committee examining the 3 Language Policy Resolution will focus on several key areas: determining from which standard the languages should be implemented, establishing how the implementation should take place, and deciding what choices should be given to students. This comprehensive approach suggests that the government is taking a more measured stance on the 3 Language Policy Resolution controversy.
Based on the report submitted by this committee, the state government will make a final decision on the implementation of the 3 Language Policy Resolution. The Chief Minister emphasized that until the committee completes its deliberations, both the previously issued government resolutions remain canceled.
Political Opposition and Hindi Imposition Allegations
The 3 Language Policy Resolution faced strong criticism from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and NCP (SP). These parties accused the government of attempting to impose Hindi on Maharashtra’s students through the 3 Language Policy Resolution.
The controversy around the 3 Language Policy Resolution reignited the long-standing ‘Hindi imposition’ debate, which refers to claims by non-Hindi-speaking states that Hindi is being forced on non-native speakers to the detriment of their regional languages. Opposition leaders argued that the 3 Language Policy Resolution was another attempt to undermine the primacy of Marathi in Maharashtra.
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Speaking on the eve of the Maharashtra Assembly’s monsoon session, Chief Minister Fadnavis defended his government’s position on the 3 Language Policy Resolution while maintaining that the government’s focus would remain on promoting Marathi language and culture.
Chief Minister’s Defense and Counter-Allegations
While defending the canceled 3 Language Policy Resolution, Chief Minister Fadnavis took aim at opposition leaders, particularly targeting Uddhav Thackeray for protesting against Hindi while accepting English. He questioned the consistency of opposition to the 3 Language Policy Resolution when English was readily accepted in educational institutions.
Fadnavis revealed that during Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure as Chief Minister, he had accepted recommendations from the Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar committee to introduce a three-language policy from class 1 to 12 and had even set up a committee for policy implementation. This revelation added another dimension to the 3 Language Policy Resolution controversy.
The Chief Minister also targeted MNS chief Raj Thackeray regarding the 3 Language Policy Resolution debate, stating that Raj Thackeray was not involved in the earlier discussions and should question Uddhav about his changed stance after joining the opposition.
Historical Context and Ambedkar’s Vision
In his defense of the 3 Language Policy Resolution, Chief Minister Fadnavis invoked the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, stating that Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted everyone to learn the Hindi language. This historical reference was used to justify the government’s initial approach to the 3 Language Policy Resolution.
The Chief Minister’s invocation of Ambedkar’s vision regarding language education added a constitutional and historical dimension to the 3 Language Policy Resolution debate, attempting to frame the policy within the broader context of national integration and educational equity.
Street Protests and Political Unity
The announcement to cancel the 3 Language Policy Resolution came just hours after significant protests led by Shiv Sena (UBT) in Mumbai and across the state. During these demonstrations, copies of the June 17 resolution were publicly burned, symbolizing the strong opposition to the 3 Language Policy Resolution.
Uddhav Thackeray clarified during the protests that he did not oppose Hindi language itself but only its imposition through policies like the 3 Language Policy Resolution. This distinction became central to the opposition’s argument against the government’s language policy.
Thackeray Brothers Unite Against Policy
The Language Policy Resolution controversy achieved something remarkable in Maharashtra politics – it brought together the estranged Thackeray brothers, Uddhav and Raj. As civic polls approached in Mumbai, both brothers announced a joint protest scheduled for July 5 against the 3 Language Policy Resolution.
However, following the government’s decision to cancel the Language Policy Resolution and form an expert committee, the planned July 5 protest has been called off. This development indicates that the opposition viewed the government’s decision as a significant victory in their campaign against the controversial policy.
Timeline for Committee Deliberations
Chief Minister Fadnavis announced that the Dr. Jadhav-led panel examining the Language Policy Resolution has requested three months to complete its comprehensive review and submit recommendations. This timeline suggests that any future decisions regarding the Language Policy Resolution will be delayed until after the committee’s thorough examination.
The three-month period for reviewing the Language Policy Resolution provides the government with breathing space to address the political concerns while allowing educational experts to propose a more balanced approach to language education in Maharashtra schools.
