Chennai : PMK Founder Dr. Ramadoss has mounted a blistering attack on the language policy of the Tamil Nadu government, branding it as showy and non-substantive.
In a statement issued today, Dr. Ramadoss contended that symbolic actions like incorporating the Tamil ‘Ru'(ரூ) symbol in the state budget emblem are futile in the absence of real steps towards promoting the language.
“Chief Minister M.K. Stalin explains the ‘Ru'(ரூ) symbol in the budget was to indicate how much the government cares for the language, but it is like they go seeking Tamil somewhere else, without giving it importance where it is needed the most. This government is looking for Tamil where it is not, forgetting its core,” Dr. Ramadoss said. “This strategy will not serve Tamil at all. It is similar to spilling acid on the roots and giving shade to the sprout.”
Dr. Ramadoss underscored that genuine commitment to Tamil must manifest in concrete action, not symbolic gestures. He highlighted the contradiction that Tamil Nadu, in contrast to other economically advanced parts of the world and even other Indian states, lets students graduate without learning or being educated in Tamil.
“In the economically advanced world’s top 10 nations, and in other Indian states, mother tongue is the language of education and a compulsory subject. But only in Tamil Nadu can one get a degree without learning or being educated in Tamil. Saying that one is developing Tamil by not eliminating this state of affairs is nothing but a drama,” he declared.
He alluded to the 1999 hunger strike of 102 Tamil experts who had wanted Tamil as the medium of instruction through the eighth grade. Although the then-Karunanidhi government had ordered Tamil to be the medium of instruction through the fifth grade, it was subsequently set aside by the High Court, and the appeal that followed has been ongoing in the Supreme Court for 25 years.
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Dr. Ramadoss also criticised the DMK government’s 2006 move to implement English-medium education in Chennai city’s municipal schools, labelling it an act of betrayal against Tamil.
“The move to make Tamil a compulsory subject was initiated by former Chief Minister Karunanidhi in 2006, following my urging. However, due to litigation by private schools, it could not be implemented. The then-AIADMK government failed to counter the private schools’ plan,” Dr. Ramadoss explained.
He regretted that Tamil is still not a compulsory subject in Tamil Nadu and asked the government to hasten the Supreme Court case to declare Tamil as a compulsory subject. He also requested legislation during the current assembly session to declare Tamil as the medium of instruction up to the last year of school.
“Tamil Nadu government needs to understand that evoking emotions is politics, but constructive action is the key. If emotional politics is carried out intentionally, then it needs to be abandoned and shift to constructive politics.”.
The government should push the pending case in the Supreme Court to its logical conclusion and introduce Tamil as a compulsory subject. Additionally, a law should be passed during the current session of legislation to introduce Tamil as the medium of instruction until the last year of school,” said Dr. Ramadoss, appealing to the government to act rather than talk.
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Tamilnadu & Pondicherry