Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government is set to introduce a bill seeking to ban the use of Hindi across the state, marking a significant move in its long-standing resistance against the perceived imposition of the language. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will present the legislation on the final day of the ongoing assembly session, with the proposed law aiming to prohibit Hindi hoardings, signage, and Hindi-language films in Tamil Nadu.
Bill to reinforce Tamil linguistic identity
The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen the state’s linguistic autonomy and reaffirm Tamil Nadu’s commitment to promoting Tamil and English as its official and functional languages.
Government officials said the bill is being introduced to “protect the sanctity of Tamil culture and language” from what the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) describes as the “continued imposition of Hindi” by the Centre.
If passed, the bill will make Tamil Nadu the first state in India to impose such wide-ranging restrictions on the use of Hindi in public and commercial spaces.
Context of earlier moves and political stance
Earlier this year, the Tamil Nadu government replaced the official Indian rupee symbol ‘₹’ with the Tamil letter ‘ரூ’ (Roo) as the emblem used in its state budget documents. The symbolic move was seen as a reaffirmation of the DMK’s emphasis on Tamil linguistic pride and self-identity, especially amid ongoing debates over the role of Hindi in official communication.
Chief Minister Stalin had previously stated that the DMK was not opposed to Hindi as a language but was firmly against its “imposition on Tamils”, which he said amounted to “playing with the self-respect of the people of Tamil Nadu”.
Opposition to the three-language policy
The ruling DMK has consistently voiced opposition to the BJP-led Union government’s three-language formula proposed under the National Education Policy (NEP). Stalin has accused the Centre of attempting to “first impose Hindi, and then Sanskrit”, warning that such measures threaten India’s federal and cultural diversity.
Reiterating the state’s adherence to its two-language policy — Tamil and English, Stalin asserted that the approach has contributed significantly to Tamil Nadu’s success in education, skill development, and employment generation.
“Imposing Hindi goes against the principles of equality and self-respect. Tamil Nadu has achieved excellence because of its inclusive language policy,” the Chief Minister said earlier this year.
Centre’s response and ongoing language debate
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has repeatedly denied allegations of Hindi imposition, arguing that the NEP merely encourages the learning of multiple languages, including regional ones.
However, political analysts view the proposed ban as a continuation of Tamil Nadu’s decades-long anti-Hindi agitation legacy, dating back to the 1930s and 1960s Dravidian movement. The new bill, if enacted, is expected to spark nationwide debate over linguistic federalism and freedom of cultural expression.
Conclusion
The Tamil Nadu government’s plan to ban Hindi underscores the deep-rooted sentiment of linguistic pride in the state. While supporters hail the move as a step towards preserving Tamil identity, critics argue that it could limit artistic and commercial diversity. As the assembly session draws to a close, all eyes will be on the final draft of the bill and its implications for India’s complex language politics.