Former international cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday reignited the language debate, pointing out that “Hindi is an official language and not the national language”. The 38-year-old India star’s remark – made while addressing students at an Engineering College in Chennai – has once again reignited the political storm with ruling DMK supporting the cricketer and the BJP asking him not to wade into the controversy.
Addressing the 23rd Graduation Day of Rajalakshmi Engineering College near Chennai, Ashwin was seen asking the students on how many of them knew Tamil, English and Hindi.
Predictably, Tamil received the most responce and Hindi the least.
“English students in the house..give me a yay. Tamil (students cheer loudly)…okay..Hindi (very little noise from the crowd),” Ashwin said.
The former cricketer shortly afterwards pointed out that “Hindi is an official language and not the national language” – a remark that drew loud cheer.
“How can Hindi be a national language when many states speak different languages,” DMK leader TKS Elangovan said.
The BJP, however, urged Ashwin not to reignite the language debate. “DMK appreciating this won’t be a surprise… I want to ask him, is he a national cricketer or a Tamil Nadu cricketer,” said BJP leader Uma anandan.
Language row reignited again
‘Hindi is not the national language; it is an official language,’ says former cricketer R. Ashwin.
DMK appreciating this won’t be a surprise… I want to ask him, is he a national cricketer or a Tamil Nadu cricketer? — @umaanandansays
How can… pic.twitter.com/h9FtZi1GI7
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 10, 2025
According to the Census 2011, 43.63 per cent of Indians spoke Hindi as their mother tongue.
The Opposition has repeatedly accused the BJP-led Centre of attempting to “impose” Hindi on the non-Hindi speaking states, primarily in the South.
Last year, a huge language controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu after Governor RN Ravi attended the Hindi Month function at the DD Tamil office. The visit sparked outrage from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress, who accused the Centre for promoting Hindi in the state where Tamil had been a symbol of cultural pride and linguistic autonomy.
