Hindi Debate Gains Traction in Andhra Pradesh Amid Political Rhetoric

Amaravati, 26th August (PTI): The contentious issue of Hindi versus non-Hindi languages, which has stirred intense debates and conflicts across various Indian states, has not significantly impacted Andhra Pradesh's political scene. However, this discourse is gaining occasional traction, driven by political leaders in the region.

While the language debate has become a heated topic in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh has traditionally been a bastion of calm, underpinned by its reputation for secularism and cultural inclusivity. Recently, however, Hindi has found new proponents, notably among those associated with the TDP-led NDA government.

Under the previous YSRCP government (2019-2024), English was the focal point of linguistic contention. Now, Hindi is becoming a talking point through figures such as Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

During the 12th-anniversary celebration of Janasena, Kalyan criticized Tamil Nadu for its opposition to Hindi, ostensibly pointing fingers at the Tamil film industry's financial interests in the Hindi-speaking markets of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar through dubbed movies. He argued that opposing Hindi restricts the development of future generations and compared Telugu to a mother tongue, calling Hindi the 'peddamma's (maternal aunt’s) language, a remark that invited criticism.

Simultaneously, during a visit to New Delhi, Naidu, a significant NDA ally, highlighted the value of multilingualism, citing former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao's proficiency in 17 languages as a testament to his greatness. Naidu emphasized that questioning the need to learn Hindi is a relatively new phenomenon.

Further defending his pro-Hindi stance post his Janasena speech, Kalyan clarified on platform X that while he never opposed Hindi as a language, he disputed its compulsory imposition.

Anji Reddy, a political analyst, believes that linguistic politics will have minimal influence in Andhra Pradesh, a state born from linguistic reorganization in 1953. He noted that while the Telugu language once rallied people for statehood, it hasn’t become a dominant political force. Reddy speculated that Naidu and Kalyan’s focus on Hindi may be an attempt to align with BJP's political ethos centered around "Hindi, Hindustani, and Hindutva."

According to Reddy, Andhra's political landscape is predominantly shaped by caste dynamics, welfare politics, and development, with minimal emphasis on language, reflected in the prevalence of spoken English institutes rather than Hindi coaching centers.

YSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed that while Hindi can be learned, English should be prioritized as the medium of education to facilitate national progress. He contended that English proficiency is crucial for competitiveness, urging that all government schools adopt English as the primary medium of instruction.

Actor and filmmaker R Narayana Murthy, known for films advocating for the poor, lamented how the lack of English proficiency has disadvantaged many, leading to limited career opportunities compared to English-speaking peers who often attain high-ranking positions.

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