Ajit Pawar Backs Marathi, Opposes Mandatory Hindi in Class I
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has come out strongly against the move to make Hindi a compulsory subject from Class I in state-run schools. Emphasizing the importance of native language instruction, Pawar declared that Marathi should remain the primary medium of learning in the foundational years, and any additional language—such as Hindi—should be introduced only later, at the discretion of parents.
Speaking in Pune, Pawar stated that there was no opposition to Marathi being the mandatory language from the beginning of a child’s schooling. He added that, typically, students in Maharashtra pursue English and Marathi as the primary languages, while Hindi is chosen as the third language by many, but only after Class V. He said the decision about a third language should ideally rest with the parents.
Pawar noted that this matter would be taken up in the cabinet meeting scheduled ahead of the upcoming legislative session, suggesting that his stand would be officially placed before the government for reconsideration.
Marathi Must Come First
The Deputy Chief Minister’s remarks reinforced the demand for prioritizing Marathi in early education. He underscored the cognitive and cultural advantages of learning in one’s mother tongue during the initial years of schooling and cautioned against imposing languages that may not be familiar to young learners at that stage.
Language Choice Should Be Left to Parents
Pawar advocated for a system where Hindi is treated as an optional third language only after students have built a strong foundation in their primary language. He believes that such a policy respects both regional identity and multilingual flexibility without forcing premature linguistic burdens on children.
Political Tensions and Upcoming Protest
His comments arrive amid political tensions surrounding the state government’s April decision to mandate Hindi from Class I. The move sparked criticism from several regional parties, including a call for a protest march on July 5. Prominent political figures have raised concerns about language imposition, warning against any centralized push that disregards Maharashtra’s linguistic identity.
Although a clarificatory government resolution later stated Hindi would not be mandatory from Class I unless 20 students opted for an alternative, critics argue this still structurally favors Hindi and restricts actual language choice.
