Decoding The Three-Language Formula Driving a Tamil Nadu-Centre Standoff
The three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has sparked a heated clash between Tamil Nadu’s DMK government and the Centre.
The three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has sparked a heated clash between Tamil Nadu’s DMK government and the Centre, reviving a decades-old linguistic debate. This policy, blending education with identity politics, lies at the heart of a funding dispute. Here’s a precise look at its facets:
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What is the three-language formula?
NEP 2020 recommends students learn three languages, with at least two native to India, applicable to both public and private schools. States have flexibility to choose without imposition. -
What is the history of the three-language formula?
Proposed by the Kothari Commission (1964-66), it was adopted in the 1968 NPE under Indira Gandhi, reaffirmed in 1986 under Rajiv Gandhi, and revised in 1992 under Narasimha Rao, promoting a regional language, Hindi, and a modern Indian or foreign language for unity. -
What does NEP 2020 say about the three-language formula?
It advocates early implementation for multilingualism, with no language imposed. States, regions, and students choose, provided two are Indian languages, aligning with constitutional provisions, regional aspirations, and national unity. -
What about foreign languages?
At the secondary level, students can opt for foreign languages like Korean, Japanese, French, German, or Spanish, alongside Indian languages and English. -
What is Tamil Nadu's opposition?
Opposition began in 1937 when C. Rajagopalachari mandated Hindi, sparking protests by the Justice Party and Periyar. In 1968, C.N. Annadurai’s government adopted a two-language policy (Tamil and English), rejecting the formula as Hindi imposition—a position unchanged since. -
What is the fresh trigger?
The Centre withheld Rs 573 crore in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds, as Tamil Nadu resists NEP 2020’s three-language formula. SSA rules require compliance for 60% central funding.
This standoff reflects Tamil Nadu’s fierce defense of linguistic autonomy against the Centre’s push for educational uniformity, making the formula a battleground of ideology and governance.
