NEP tussle

The escalating tussle between Tamil Nadu and the Union government over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not just a dispute over language policy; it is a deeper battle over state autonomy, cultural identity, and federal governance.

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Tamil Nadu, historically resistant to Hindi imposition, views the NEP as a direct challenge to its well-established two-language policy. The Centre's decision to withhold crucial educational funds unless the state aligns with the NEP has only intensified this conflict, turning an educational framework into a political flashpoint. Tamil Nadu has long championed its two-language policy – Tamil and English – as a reflection of its linguistic heritage and a tool for maintaining cultural distinctiveness. The three-language formula proposed under NEP, while ostensibly flexible, is perceived in the state as a veiled attempt to introduce Hindi through the backdoor. This resistance is deeply rooted in decades of opposition to linguistic homogenisation, dating back to the anti-Hindi agitation movements of the 20th century. The present standoff reinforces the sentiment that language policies cannot be dictated from the Centre without acknowledging regional aspirations. However, the state's opposition to NEP goes beyond language. Tamil Nadu argues that the policy undermines its autonomy in shaping education tailored to its socio-cultural needs. The state has sought to develop its own education policy, one that aligns with its principles of social justice and inclusivity. The NEP, with its push for vocational education from an early stage, has raised concerns about reinforcing caste-based occupational roles – an issue that Tamil Nadu has actively worked to dismantle over the decades. The Centre's decision to withhold over Rs 2,000 crore in Samagra Shiksha funds has further fuelled this dispute. Education, a subject on the Concurrent List, requires cooperative federalism, but the conditional release of funds undermines this principle. The state government has framed this move as an attempt to strong-arm Tamil Nadu into submission, calling it "blackmail." Even the opposition within the state, despite political differences, h