Language and Identity Clash:
The MK Stalin-led government’s annual budget for Tamil Nadu in FY 2025-26 aimed to showcase various progressive initiatives:
- The promise of 8% annual growth in the state’s GDP.
- A 1% concession on stamp duty for properties registered under women’s names.
- The rising popularity of the free bus travel scheme among women, saving an average of Rs 888 per woman per month.
- The Rs 2,000 stipend dedicated to orphaned children for their education.
However, all these achievements were overshadowed by one controversial move – the use of the Tamil symbol for the rupee instead of the universally accepted one. This decision triggered national outrage, drawing sharp criticism from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, herself a Tamilian, alongside BJP chief in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai, and other central government loyalists who interpreted the gesture as a challenge to central authority.
The Symbolic Defiance
The state’s decision to use the Tamil symbol for the rupee was not legally prohibited but was a clear deviation from established norms. Tamil Nadu’s intention was straightforward — to make a statement and provoke a reaction from the BJP, which it effectively did.
This act of defiance aligns with the ongoing language dispute where the central government is pushing for the inclusion of Hindi in the New Education Policy. Using the Tamil rupee symbol was a bold retort against what Tamil Nadu perceives as cultural imposition.
The Hypocrisy Unmasked
Ironically, both Sitharaman and Annamalai were previously found using the Tamil symbol for the rupee in their social media posts, highlighting how native symbols are naturally embraced in their regional contexts.
A Deeper Conflict
The real debate is about Tamil Nadu’s firm stance: “Tamilians are fluent in their mother tongue, and English serves well enough. Enforcing Hindi is unnecessary.” The three-language policy is increasingly seen as a strategy to promote Hindi dominance over southern and non-Hindi speaking states, granting an unfair advantage to Hindi-speaking regions.
A Call for Mutual Respect
This episode serves as a reminder that language politics in India remains a sensitive and potentially divisive issue. The central government must recognize the cultural and linguistic pride of states like Tamil Nadu and avoid heavy-handed tactics aimed at enforcing linguistic conformity.
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Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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