Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement on status of Hindi in Tamil Nadu creates controversy

Nirmala Sitharaman responded to Kanimozhi over her statement,”please read Silapathikaram” in the parliament with a 4 minute retort on how the government of Tamil Nadu prohibits people from learning Hindi and Sanskrit in the name of opposition to Hindi imposition.

“Restricting people from learning Hindi and Sanskrit is also a form of imposition. This was a state sponsored imposition. You are welcome to promote the Tamil language but you do not have the right to restrict others from learning Hindi and Sanskrit. I am telling my lived experience. I want to tell them about Silapathikaram. Mylai Ponnuswamy Sivagnanam was an authority in Silapthakiram. In 1951 he wrote, we are not Dravidians, we are Tamilians. Our northern border is Venkatam not Vindhya. The residents of Venkatam are not Aryans but Tamilians. Culture may vary beyond but it’s not in opposition to our culture.” she said.

However the internet was divided over the statement. Many recollected instances wherein they had the full liberty to learn Hindi even while residing in Tamil Nadu. 

Singer Chinmayi Sripaada  responded by tweeting that no such restriction exists. She said the official data from the Dakshina Bharat Prachar Sabha indicated that the highest number of Hindi learners are in Tamil Nadu.