Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language for students in Classes 1 to 5 across all Marathi and English medium schools, triggering immediate backlash from Marathi language advocates who accuse the state of a "backdoor imposition."
The directive, issued on Tuesday by the School Education Department, forms part of implementing the 'State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024' under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The order stipulates that Hindi must be studied "generally" as the third language by all students in these primary grades. While offering a conditional alternative, the policy sets a high bar: students wishing to learn any other Indian language instead of Hindi must meet a requirement of 20 students per standard within their school. Only if such demand materialises will the school provide a dedicated teacher or offer online instruction for the alternative language.
This move directly contradicts recent assurances from School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar (known as Dada Bhuse). Facing intense public criticism earlier this year, Bhuse announced on April 22nd that Hindi would not be compulsory for Classes 1 to 5.
As recently as last month at a Pune event, the Minister stated the three-language formula was "on hold" pending consideration of parental suggestions to introduce the third language from Class 3 instead of Class 1, maintaining the existing two-language system for now.
"The government has betrayed the Marathi people," declared Deepak Pawar of the Mumbai-based Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra, dedicated to preserving the language. "This is nothing but the backdoor imposition of Hindi. If we remain silent now, it will pave the way for dismantling the federal structure and the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement," Pawar charged in a social media post urging protests.
The order also clarifies requirements for schools with other mediums of instruction: their three-language formula must include the medium language, Marathi, and English.
Educational experts expressed scepticism about the feasibility of the alternative language provision. Vasant Kalpande, former Chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, stated, "Finding 20 students per class opting for a non-Hindi language is unlikely. The online teaching provision is also an attempt to discourage opting for any language other than Hindi."
He further questioned the developmental appropriateness, noting, "Although Marathi and Hindi share similar scripts, learning the nuances and differences between them will be too demanding for such young students."
Kalpande also highlighted regional disparities, pointing out that states like Gujarat and Assam do not mandate Hindi as a third language. The swift reinstatement of the mandate, despite recent ministerial statements pausing it, has reignited the controversy, leaving parents and educators questioning the policy's consistency and implementation.
