Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs and Information Technology Minister, and Mumbai BJP President, Adv. Ashish Shelar, on Monday clarified that there is no mandatory imposition of Hindi as the third language in the state’s school curriculum. He emphasized that Marathi remains the only compulsory language in Maharashtra, while Hindi has merely been offered as an optional third language.
Speaking at a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Shelar addressed the ongoing political and public debate around the inclusion of Hindi in the school curriculum. He stated, “Previously, Hindi was compulsory from Classes 5 to 8. Our government has removed that compulsion and made Hindi one of the optional third-language choices available to students. Discussions taking place right now are exaggerated, illogical, and baseless.”
“We Are Committed to Marathi and Student Welfare”
Reiterating the BJP’s position, Shelar said, “We are staunch supporters of the Marathi language, and at the same time, we are equally committed to student welfare.” He clarified that in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), there is no mandate for a third language—only a recommendation based on educational need and context.
“Even if the BJP wanted to impose Hindi, it could have been done while formulating the policy. But we didn’t. So, the allegations made today are unfounded,” he added.
Debate Welcomed, But Must Be Based on Facts
While welcoming public discourse, Shelar emphasized that some criticism is based on misinformation or misunderstanding. “We respect democratic rights and welcome debate. Protests are a natural part of democracy. But let’s not base discussions on misinformation,” he urged.
He explained that the language policy was developed after extensive consultation:
A committee of officers was appointed to study the matter.
Input was taken from 450 language and education experts.
After one year of research, a draft policy was released for public feedback.
Over 3,800 suggestions and objections were received and reviewed.
Based on the final Steering Committee report, the government decided to offer Hindi as one of 15 optional third-language choices.
Academic Fairness and Competitiveness
Shelar also pointed out the academic implications and said, Currently, 9.68 lakh students are enrolled in Class 1 in Maharashtra Board schools. Around 10% attend CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, Cambridge, and IB schools, where they already learn three languages (including Marathi, compulsory since 2020).If Marathi-medium students are restricted to two languages, they risk falling behind in the NEP’s Academic Bank of Credits system and competitive exams.
“If students in other states are learning three languages, and we deny that to ours, they will be left behind,” Shelar warned.
Call for Constructive Dialogue
Shelar made a strong appeal to the media, intellectuals, editors, parents, and students to understand the issue thoroughly and avoid spreading false narratives. “We are open to any discussion. But please, avoid exaggerated and illogical debates,” he said.
He also clarified that the press conference was non-political and aimed solely at presenting facts on the language issue. When asked political questions, Shelar declined to comment, stating, “We will respond to political allegations later, in an appropriate manner.”
