Debate over India's three-language policy in education

Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty has expressed her support for the three-language policy outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP), advocating for students to embrace multilingual learning.

Drawing from her personal experience, Murty shared, "I have always believed that one can learn multiple languages, and I myself know 7-8 languages. I enjoy learning, and I believe children can gain a lot from it."

This endorsement contrasts sharply with the stance of Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, who has criticized the Union Government over the same policy. Chidambaram argues that Tamil Nadu is adequately served by its two-language approach, comprising English and Tamil.

"English connects us with the world of commerce and science, and Tamil preserves our culture and identity. If anyone wants to learn a third language, it should be their choice. Forcing a third language upon us is unacceptable," he stated.

Adding to the opposition's concerns, Congress MP Jebi Mather remarked, "The BJP should realize that language is a sensitive emotional matter... Anything that damages people's sentiments should be avoided. Dharmendra Pradhan is causing unnecessary societal divisions. The opposition stands united for harmony, which is why we walked out of Parliament yesterday. The BJP's NEP (National Education Policy) has hidden agendas..."

In the Rajya Sabha, the Union Education Minister refuted claims that the government seeks to divide society through language policies, asserting that the administration, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would never commit such a "sin."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also criticized the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for its opposition to the three-language policy. She accused the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu of creating a "political mess" and denying children their "right to learn" additional languages.