Former international cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking at the 23rd Graduation Day of Rajalakshmi Engineering College in Chennai on Thursday, reignited the longstanding language debate in India. Addressing a crowd of engineering students, Ashwin clarified that “Hindi is an official language and not the national language,” a statement that drew cheers from the audience and political reactions across the spectrum.
Ashwin began his address by interacting with the students, asking how many of them spoke Tamil, English, and Hindi. The response was telling. While Tamil received loud cheers and English moderate applause, the response for Hindi was notably muted.
தமிழுக்கும் அமுதென்றுபேர்! – அந்தத்
தமிழ் இன்பத்தமிழ் எங்கள் உயிருக்கு நேர்..!Hindi is not a National Language, It’s a official Language.”#Ashwin pic.twitter.com/CyY2iDpvCk
— நெல்லை செல்வின் (@selvinnellai87) January 9, 2025
“English students in the house…give me a yay. Tamil (students cheer loudly)…okay. Hindi (very little noise from the crowd),” Ashwin said, before adding, “Hindi is an official language and not the national language.” His remark, which resonated strongly with the Tamil-speaking audience, has stirred fresh controversy on India’s linguistic landscape.
Political Reactions
Ashwin’s comments received support from DMK leader TKS Elangovan, who remarked, “How can Hindi be a national language when many states speak different languages?” However, the BJP criticized Ashwin for his statement. BJP leader Uma Anandan questioned, “Is he a national cricketer or a Tamil Nadu cricketer?” and urged him to stay away from political debates.
The Ongoing Language Debate in India
India has long grappled with linguistic diversity and tensions. The Constitution designates Hindi as an official language, not a national one. Hindi Diwas is observed annually on September 14 to mark the adoption of Hindi as an official language in 1949.
According to the 2011 Census, 43.63% of Indians speak Hindi as their mother tongue. However, the southern states, including Tamil Nadu, have consistently opposed any perceived imposition of Hindi, citing linguistic and cultural autonomy.
Past Controversies
This isn’t the first time Tamil Nadu has seen debates over Hindi. Last year, Governor RN Ravi’s participation in a Hindi Month event at Doordarshan Tamil sparked backlash from the DMK and Congress. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned the celebration, urging the Prime Minister to avoid promoting Hindi in non-Hindi-speaking states, emphasizing Tamil’s cultural pride and historical significance.
