On March 15, 2025, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena Party chief Pawan Kalyan sparked controversy with his remarks on Tamil Nadu’s stance on the National Education Policy (NEP) and the Hindi language. He criticized Tamil Nadu politicians for their strong opposition to Hindi being introduced in the state’s educational curriculum while simultaneously benefiting from the financial gains of the Hindi-speaking market through the film industry.
Pawan Kalyan questioned the inconsistency in their approach, highlighting that Tamil films are widely dubbed in Hindi to reach a broader audience and generate significant revenue. He argued that if Tamil Nadu is willing to embrace Hindi for economic benefits in the entertainment industry, it should also reconsider its opposition to Hindi in education.
This statement has led to heated debates among political leaders, with Tamil Nadu parties reaffirming their commitment to preserving the primacy of Tamil in education and administration. Critics argue that language policies should be based on cultural and historical significance rather than economic considerations.
Pawan Kalyan’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions from various political circles, with some supporting his views on a more inclusive language approach, while others see his statement as an oversimplification of Tamil Nadu’s historical opposition to linguistic imposition.
