‘Didn’t Just Learn Hindi…’: Andhra CM Naidu Cites Narasimha Rao As Pawan Kalyan Backs Hindi As ‘Rashtra Bhasha’
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has weighed in on the ongoing discourse around the Hindi language, highlighting the multilingual abilities of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. Speaking at a lecture in Delhi on the life and legacy of Rao, Naidu said, “While today we are all talking about ‘Why we should learn Hindi?’, the Former PM Narsimha Rao was a scholar of 17 languages, he didn’t just learn Hindi but other languages too and that’s how he became a great man.”
According to news agency PTI, describing Rao as a visionary who reshaped India’s economic trajectory, Naidu noted, “He changed the future of India, we are all here today enjoying the fruits of this reform.” Reflecting on the crisis India faced in 1991, he said the country was on the verge of financial collapse, with its foreign reserves depleting and gold reserves pledged.
“He became (Rao) PM in June 1991, he recognised the crisis was an opportunity, and that India needed bold economic reforms. He launched the historic economic reforms,” Naidu added, crediting Rao for taking transformative steps at a crucial juncture.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's emphasis on multilingualism comes while his deputy and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan made a strong pitch for Hindi, urging citizens to overcome apprehensions and adopt the language as a unifying medium across Indian states.
Hindi is ‘Rashtra Bhasha’: Pawan Kalyan counters political resistance to Hindi
According to India Today, speaking in Hyderabad, Kalyan said, “Why are you ashamed to accept the Hindi language?” while stressing that “no one imposes and no one hates,” but the language should be embraced with understanding. He recalled former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s affinity for Hindi, even though he was from Tamil Nadu, saying, “He used to say languages are those means that connect the heart.”
Calling Hindi “a practical tool for communication,” Kalyan dismissed the claim that it was being forced upon people. “Hindi is not something mandatory. It is one language that can be easily understood across all states of this country,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons with global language learning trends, Kalyan pointed out that Indians often pick up German, Japanese, or other foreign languages for jobs and travel. “When foreigners can learn our language, when we need to go to Germany for work we learn German, and to go visit Japan we learn Japanese, so then why are we afraid of learning our own Hindi language? Why the fear? Why the hesitation?”
He also addressed political resistance to Hindi, especially from the southern states, framing it as misplaced. “When it comes to politics, some say Hindi is being thrust upon us, imposed upon us. Tell me, how is it right? When we can accept English and learn English calling it a modern language, then why not learn Hindi? What’s wrong in it?” he remarked, as quoted by India Today.
Kalyan emphasised that Hindi should not be viewed through a political lens but rather as a shared thread among India’s diverse linguistic communities. “Across the world, people are divided by language. But in India, Hindi stands as a unifying force – one language that connects us across states and cultures. I wholeheartedly welcome Hindi as our national language.”
He concluded with a powerful metaphor: “If our mother tongue is like our mother, then Hindi is like the ‘Pedda Amma’ – the elder mother – who brings all the linguistic families of India under one roof.” Urging citizens to “let go of the hatred towards Hindi,” Kalyan called on them to “understand it, embrace it.”
This NDA pitch in Andhra Pradesh comes as DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu and Left-ruled Kerala continue to oppose Hindi, alleging imposition by the NDA-led Union government. Both states cite shared Dravidian identity and strong linguistic history to resist Hindi's push.
Interestingly, a controversy regarding alleged Hindi imposition erupted in BJP-ruled Maharashtra after a government order aimed to introduce Hindi education in primary government classes. The strong political backlash, including from Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, forced CM Devendra Fadnavis to withdraw the order. The issue has further snowballed into controversial incidents of assault by MNS workers targeting those opting to speak Hindi instead of Marathi.
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