Tamil Nadu’s deputy chief minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin, has urged the people of the state to choose Tamil names for their children as a way to resist what he calls “Hindi imposition.” In a veiled criticism of the BJP-led central government, Stalin said that attempts are being made to impose Hindi through the new education policy.

Udhayanidhi Stalin emphasized that Tamil Nadu would never accept such an imposition. “I encourage new parents to come up with beautiful Tamil names for their children because many are trying to force Hindi on Tamil Nadu. They couldn’t do it directly, so now they are removing words from the Tamil Thaai Vaazthu (State anthem). They’re trying to impose Hindi through the education system, but they are failing,” Udhayanidhi said at a public event.

Dindigul | Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said, "I request the newlyweds to come up with a beautiful Tamil name for their child. Because many are attempting to impose Hindi in Tamil Nadu. They couldn't do it directly. That's why they are omitting a few words… pic.twitter.com/8A9gciibKc

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2024

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Opposition to Changes in Tamil Anthem

He further claimed that there were previous attempts to change the name of Tamil Nadu, which were stopped after public outrage. “Now, there is talk of removing the word ‘Dravidam’ from the Tamil anthem. But as long as the DMK and the Tamil people exist, no one can touch Tamil, Tamil Nadu, or Dravidam. Tamil Nadu will never accept Hindi imposition,” he declared.

Comments by CM MK Stalin on Population and Language

Udhayanidhi’s remarks come shortly after his father, Chief Minister MK Stalin, made comments related to the Centre’s Lok Sabha delimitation exercise. MK Stalin stated that people in Tamil Nadu might feel pressured to raise large families due to changes in constituency boundaries. He referenced a recent statement by Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, urging families to have more children to stabilize the population. However, Stalin urged parents to at least give their children Tamil names, despite the pressure.

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Governor vs. Chief Minister Conflict

These remarks also come in the context of a larger conflict between Tamil Nadu’s government and Governor RN Ravi. The controversy escalated after the Governor allegedly omitted the phrase “Dravida nal Thirunadu” from the Tamil anthem during a public event, sparking outrage.

MK Stalin Criticizes Governor RN Ravi

Chief Minister MK Stalin took to social media to criticize Governor RN Ravi, asking if the Governor is “an Aryan” and accusing him of acting against Tamil Nadu’s laws by altering the Tamil anthem. Stalin accused the Governor of insulting the unity of India and the diverse people living in the country.

He called on the central government to recall the Governor, stating, “The Union Government should immediately recall the Governor who is deliberately insulting Tamil Nadu and its people.”

Protest Against Hindi Month Celebrations

Earlier, MK Stalin had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, objecting to the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Chennai Doordarshan being combined with Hindi Month celebrations. In his letter, Stalin pointed out that India’s Constitution does not designate any national language and urged the government to avoid promoting language-based events in non-Hindi speaking states.

He argued that celebrating Hindi Month in Tamil Nadu was seen as an attempt to undermine other languages, and called for Hindi not to be imposed on the people of the state. Despite these tensions, Stalin acknowledged that he was surprised by the growing fluency in Hindi among students in Tamil Nadu, but he firmly reiterated that Hindi should not be forced upon the state.

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