Voices Rise Against Hindi Opposition in Tamil Nadu
Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Appeals to Learn Hindi
Voices against Hindi opposition are now emerging from within Tamil Nadu itself. Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho Corporation, has appealed to the youth of Tamil Nadu to learn Hindi. He has also urged people to keep this issue away from politics. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he ended his message with the appeal, "Let's learn Hindi," making it clear that Tamil Nadu has moved beyond the politics of opposing Hindi.
Sridhar Vembu explained that employees from Tamil Nadu working in his company face difficulties due to their lack of Hindi knowledge. Zoho operates in states like Mumbai, Gujarat, and several northern regions, but employees from Tamil Nadu cannot be sent there due to their inability to communicate in Hindi. Sridhar himself decided to learn Hindi five years ago and can now understand about 20% of Hindi conversations.
Mixed Reactions and Support from Youth
Sridhar Vembu's post received mixed reactions, but many supported his stance. A young professional from Tamil Nadu working in an IT company in Bengaluru admitted that not knowing Hindi makes him feel isolated when communicating with colleagues. He acknowledged that learning Hindi could open up better career opportunities.
The Paradox of Hindi Education in Tamil Nadu
Responding to Sridhar Vembu's post, Gurumurthy, a prominent writer and thinker from Tamil Nadu, highlighted the paradox of Hindi opposition. He revealed that 60 lakh students in CBSE schools in Tamil Nadu are learning Hindi. Additionally, 5 lakh students have appeared for exams conducted by the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha. However, 83 lakh students in government and government-aided schools are not taught Hindi. According to Gurumurthy, 43% of students in Tamil Nadu can read Hindi.
Sridhar Vembu supported Gurumurthy's data, pointing out that CBSE schools are rapidly opening in rural Tamil Nadu. Only children from poor families, who cannot afford private school fees, are forced to study in government schools.
Changing Political Narrative
With Hindi opposition no longer being as significant an issue as it was in 1968, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has also shifted his stance. He now links Hindi opposition to Sanskrit opposition, claiming that the central government is using Hindi as a front to impose Sanskrit. This statement indicates that Hindi opposition is no longer the same political issue it once was in Tamil Nadu.
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