MUMBAI: Buffeted by an anti-Hindi campaign led by the Thackeray cousins, CM Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday announced that the state cabinet had decided to scrap two Govt Resolutions (GRs) to introduce Hindi as a third language for class 1 students.The announcement came on a day when public protests against introducing Hindi in primary schools started with Uddhav Thackeray present at a symbolic burning of the GRs at Azad Maidan. A stormy start was also expected to the monsoon session of the state legislature on Monday.Announcing a rollback, the CM also set up a panel led by academic Narendra Jadhav to frame recommendations for implementing a three-language policy. “Our policy is Marathi-centric and Marathi student-centric. We do not wish to do politics on this issue,” said Fadnavis.
Following the announcement, the Thackerays called off a joint protest rally to be held on July 5 and instead hold a ‘victory procession’. Both Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had described the move to start Hindi lessons in primary school as a ‘linguistic imposition’.Announcing a rollback, Fadnavis cited recommendations of the Mashelkar committee set up by his predecessor in 2020 to defend his govt’s move. He said Thackeray formed the expert panel to guide the administration on adopting the new National Education Policy. He said the report was accepted by Thackeray, Congress and NCP (SP) when in power. “But as usual when in power speak differently, when out of power speak differently. Opposition for opposition sake,” he added.Fadnavis defends Hindi move, cites Uddhav-era panel’s reportRaj Thackeray must ask Uddhav Thackeray if he gave approval then how has he set out to hold an agitation now,” Fadnavis added.The state govt has been under pressure from its own Language Advisory Committee, which passed a resolution that no third language including Hindi be taught before Class 5. The opposition led by the Thackeray cousins had then announced a morcha against the introduction of Hindi on July 5. Several litterateurs and celebrities had announced their decision to join the morcha as also the Congress and the NCP (SP).Defending the GR for the third language, the CM said the Mashelkar committee set up during the tenure of Uddhav Thackeray submitted a 101-page report recommending such a move. The committee was led by scientist Raghunath Mashelkar and had a sub-committee which included Shiksha Vidya Prabodhini founder Vijay Kadam, a ‘deputy leader’ of Sena (UBT), he added.“Point number 8.1 (of the report) states English and Hindi languages should be implemented as second languages from first standard onwards. If students learn English for 12 years from first to twelfth standard, they will develop proficiency in English and be able to read necessary books. They will be prepared for engineering, medical and other technical-professional courses. While priority must be given to teaching in Marathi in higher education institutions, English and Hindi as second languages should be made compulsory from first standard to 12th. If needed, they should also be made compulsory in the 3 or 4-year degree courses of college education,” said Fadnavis, quoting from the report.He said that the new panel will study the Mashelkar report and engage with those opposed to the policy before making recommendations. The other members of the committee will be announced shortly and the committee will submit its report in three months, he said.Explaining the evolution of the three-language policy, he said the NEP was first adopted by Karnataka followed by MP, Telangana and UP. “On 21 Sept, 2020 then CM Uddhav Thackeray announced the setting up of an expert committee on how to apply this NEP.” Fadnavis said after the report was submitted on Sept 14, 2021, it came before the cabinet on Jan 20, 2022. Its minutes were confirmed on Jan 7, 2022 and signed by CM Thackeray. There is no mention of keeping aside the three-language policy,” said Fadnavis.“It is not true when some say the report was not accepted. The report was accepted and to implement it, a committee was set up to frame rules. In our tenure following the work of the committee the GRs were issued. We issued the first GR on 16 April, 2025 mentioning Marathi as compulsory followed by English as second language and Hindi as third language. There was an uproar and a second GR was issued on 17 June 2025 and in that we said any Indian language can be studied as a third language. Marathi is compulsory. The study of a third language is not from Std I. It is only an oral study, reading and writing is from Std III. Our govt did not take the decision, we did not make Hindi compulsory, rather (we) gave the option of any Indian language,” said Fadnavis.Fadnavis said when govt issued the second GR it was made clear they wanted to implement it through consensus and the education minister had begun holding consultations.After the CM’s press meet, deputy CM Ajit Pawar urged opposition to call off the July 5 morcha and not inconvenience people in Mumbai. “The reason for holding the morcha is no longer there,” he said.Following the CM’s announcement, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, “This imposition was withdrawn solely due to strong resistance from the Marathi people. Why govt was so insistent on pushing Hindi and from where exactly this pressure was coming still remains a mystery.” He said the govt has once again appointed a new committee. “Let me say this in clear terms: whether the report of this committee comes or not, such things will no longer be tolerated.”
