Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the decision to implement the three-language policy in schools was originally taken during the Uddhav Thackeray administration, which held power from 2019 to 2022. Addressing a press conference, Fadnavis presented a detailed timeline of developments, backed by official documents, to counter criticism from the opposition over the state government’s recent withdrawal of Government Resolutions (GRs) concerning Hindi in state schools.
The Mahayuti government on Sunday revoked two Government Resolutions (GRs) dated April 16 and June 17, which had proposed the inclusion of Hindi under the three-language formula in primary education. The state also announced the formation of a committee headed by senior educationist Dr Narendra Jadhav to examine the matter in detail and submit a report, based on which a final decision will be taken.
“The GR making Hindi mandatory has been withdrawn. A committee has been formed under Dr Narendra Jadhav. Further decisions will be based on the committee’s report,” Fadnavis said, adding that the government had no intention of politicising the matter.
According to Fadnavis, it was in September 2020 that Thackeray, then chief minister, approved the formation of a task force to examine education reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. A GR was subsequently issued in October 2020, and a committee under the chairmanship of noted scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar was formed.
The 18-member committee included eminent academics such as former University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Dr Sukhdeo Thorat, Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Dr Suhas Pednekar, SNDT University Vice-Chancellor Professor Shashikala Vanjari, and other senior educators from various institutions. Vijay Kadam, a trustee of Shivvidya Prabodhini and currently a key figure in the Uddhav Thackeray faction, was also part of the committee.
In September 2021, the committee submitted a 101-page report to Thackeray.
The report’s recommendations included making both Hindi and English mandatory second languages from Class 1 to 12, in addition to prioritising Marathi for higher education. Official minutes from a cabinet meeting held in January 2022, chaired by Thackeray, indicate that the report was accepted and its phased implementation approved.
Commenting on this, Fadnavis said, “The opposition now claims that the GR was imposed by us. But the fact remains, it was their decision. We have merely withdrawn it in the interest of public sentiment and are now reviewing the matter afresh.”
The current administration held a review meeting on June 23 and decided that further action would be taken only after consultations with writers, linguists, educationists, and political leaders. Minister Dada Bhuse has been assigned the responsibility of coordinating these discussions.
Citing Dr BR Ambedkar’s writings on Hindi, Fadnavis remarked that the debate over language must ultimately be resolved in a manner that ensures national unity. Dr Ambedkar had advocated for a common language to unite the country, while warning that two languages would inevitably divide it.
The state’s decision to roll back the GRs came following protests and criticism from the opposition, particularly the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), who had announced a joint morcha on July 5. That protest has now been cancelled.
