Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray vowed to resist the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language for students in classes 1 to 5, asserting that his party would not allow such imposition.

Speaking at an event organized by the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the workers’ wing of Shiv Sena (UBT), Thackeray clarified that while his party has no opposition to Hindi, it questions the need to enforce it. The state’s move, which mandates Hindi in Marathi and English-medium schools, breaks from the earlier two-language policy and has sparked criticism from opposition groups. Thackeray’s remarks underline the growing contention over language policy in Maharashtra’s education system.

The debate over Hindi imposition has intensified across India, with states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal vocally opposing policies perceived as prioritizing Hindi over regional languages.

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In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin has led protests against the National Education Policy’s (NEP) three-language formula, alleging it subtly promotes Hindi and undermines Tamil identity. Stalin recently stated, “We aren’t against any specific language.

We are against the imposition of Hindi,” highlighting the state’s historical resistance since the 1937 anti-Hindi agitations. Similar sentiments echo in Karnataka, where protests against Hindi signage have surfaced, and in Kerala, where leaders resist Hindi in administration. This growing chorus underscores a broader struggle for linguistic autonomy and cultural diversity.

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