Facing mounting opposition over the proposed introduction of Hindi in primary classes, the Maharashtra cabinet on Sunday revoked two government resolutions related to the implementation of the three-language policy in schools from Classes 1 to 5.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the decision and said a new committee, led by educationist Narendra Jadhav, would be formed to recommend the future course of action and provide guidance on the implementation of the language policy.
Reaffirming the importance of Marathi in the state’s education system, Fadnavis said, “For us, Marathi and the Marathi student are at the center of our policy. Our language policy will always be Marathi-centric.”
With this, the Maharashtra government officially withdrew two controversial Government Resolutions (GRs) issued on April 16 and June 17, which had mandated Hindi as the third language for students from Classes 1 to 5. The decision marks a significant rollback following intense opposition from political parties and civil society groups who alleged the move was an attempt to impose Hindi at the cost of regional identity and linguistic diversity.
Mounting pressure on state govt
Opposition to the GRs had been mounting, with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) both planning protest marches on July 5.
In April, the government had introduced the new three-language formula for Marathi and English medium schools, beginning from Class 1, in contrast to the previous norm where the third language was taught only at the secondary level. The automatic inclusion of Hindi sparked widespread outrage and political backlash.
Fadnavis also announced the formation of a committee led by educationist Narendra Jadhav to recommend a revised framework for the implementation of the language policy. The panel will be tasked with balancing national language goals with the preservation and promotion of Marathi.