MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Opposes Maharashtra Government's Hindi Mandate in Schools
April 18, 2025 | Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray has expressed strong opposition to the state government’s recent decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language for students in Classes 1 to 5. The move comes as part of the Maharashtra government’s implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which will be rolled out in phases starting in the 2025–26 academic year.
राज्य शालेय अभ्यासक्रम आराखडा २०२४ नुसार महाराष्ट्रात पहिलीपासूनच हिंदी ही भाषा अनिवार्य करण्यात आली आहे. मी स्वच्छ शब्दांत सांगतो की ही सक्ती महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना खपवून घेणार नाही.
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) April 17, 2025
केंद्र सरकारचं सध्या जे सर्वत्र 'हिंदीकरण' करण्याचे प्रयत्न सुरू आहेत, ते या राज्यात आम्ही…
Under the new policy, schools, both Marathi and English mediums, are required to teach Hindi as a mandatory third language until Class 5. Thackeray took to social media to voice his displeasure, accusing the government of forcibly imposing Hindi on the state’s students. In his post, Thackeray said, “According to the State Curriculum Framework 2024, Hindi is now being made compulsory from Class 1 in Maharashtra. Let me make it clear—Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will not tolerate this imposition.”
Thackeray criticized the central government’s continuous push for “Hindi-isation” and questioned the rationale behind making Hindi a mandatory language in Maharashtra, arguing, “Hindi is not the national language. It is just one of many regional languages in the country. Why should children in Maharashtra be forced to learn it from the first grade?”
Thackeray further appealed to the state government to limit the ‘three-language formula’ to administrative functions and not extend it to education. He emphasized that the formation of states was based on the respect for regional languages and that imposing a language from another region would undermine this principle.
He stressed the importance of respecting each state’s linguistic heritage, stating, “Every language has a rich history and tradition, and it should be respected in its own state. Just as we expect non-Marathi speakers in Maharashtra to respect Marathi, Marathi people in other states should respect the local language there.”
Thackeray also warned that imposing Hindi would lead to unnecessary conflict. “We are Hindus, but we are not Hindi. If you try to impose Hindi on Maharashtra, conflict is inevitable,” he stated. He alleged that the government was using this language issue as a distraction from more pressing concerns such as unemployment, unfulfilled farm loan waivers, and the economic crisis. “When there’s nothing meaningful to show, divide and rule becomes the tool—just like the British,” he said.
The MNS leader also pointed out the absence of similar language mandates in southern states, questioning why such policies were only being applied in Maharashtra. “Why only Maharashtra? Is it because the local government here is quietly accepting it? The MNS will not allow this,” he warned, adding that Hindi textbooks would not be allowed to be sold or distributed in Maharashtra schools.
In his call to action, Thackeray urged the people of Maharashtra, including the media and political parties, to unite against the language imposition. “If any political party truly values the Marathi language, they should stand with us in protest,” he said.
He concluded his statement with a grave warning: “Today, it’s about language, but tomorrow there will be other forced mandates. The real issue is not the death of the old, but that the future is being darkened.”
