In a bold move against what it calls the “undue prominence” given to Sanskrit by the Central Government, the Tamil Nadu Government has announced significant revisions to school textbooks and awareness drives to resist communal influence in educational institutions. On June 24, 2025, Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi made this announcement during a high-level review meeting with Chief Educational Officers from across the state, firmly aligning his stance with that of Chief Minister MK Stalin, who earlier in the day launched a scathing attack on the Centre’s funding patterns favouring Sanskrit.

Centre Accused of Language Discrimination

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Poyyamozhi claimed that while India officially recognises six classical languages, the Centre disproportionately prioritises Sanskrit, effectively ignoring others like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.

“Despite India having five other classical languages, only Sanskrit is being given undue prominence. There is a continuous bias,” said Poyyamozhi.

He revealed that textbook revisions are already underway and a formal announcement will soon be made. These changes will likely reflect a more inclusive representation of Indian classical languages, with Tamil taking a central role in state-run school syllabi.

Awareness Campaign to Tackle Communal Influence

Another key aspect of the government’s educational strategy involves launching an awareness campaign aimed at curbing communal ideologies within the school system. This decision follows concerns about attempts to introduce communal narratives in schools, allegedly through textbooks or classroom activities influenced by ideologically driven groups.

“We are planning to raise awareness through district collectors and ensure such influences are identified and removed,” said the Minister.

A two-day brainstorming session was held with senior education officials to devise this strategy. The goal, according to Poyyamozhi, is to safeguard secularism and inclusivity in the educational space.

Stalin’s Strong Reaction: 'Crocodile Tears for Tamil'

Earlier the same day, Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his outrage on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the Union government of ignoring Tamil and other classical languages. Referring to an RTI response made public by India Today, he claimed that between 2014–15 and 2024–25, the Centre spent Rs. 2,532.59 crore on Sanskrit alone, while only Rs. 147.56 crore was distributed among the other five classical languages combined.

“Sanskrit gets the crores; Tamil and other South Indian languages get nothing but crocodile tears,” Stalin posted.

His comments have sparked political backlash and debates across southern states, with leaders from multiple regional parties echoing similar concerns about the linguistic bias allegedly embedded within the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

A Pattern of Opposition to Language Imposition

Tamil Nadu’s resistance is not in isolation. From Karnataka to Maharashtra, states governed by regional or opposition parties have challenged the perceived imposition of Sanskrit and Hindi at the cost of their native tongues.

In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protested against Hindi being introduced as the third language, urging the use of Marathi instead.

The issue of language imposition has become one of the central controversies surrounding the NEP 2020, which promotes a three-language formula that many see as favouring Hindi and Sanskrit over regional languages. In southern states, this has reignited historical sentiments against cultural homogenisation led by the Centre.

The Numbers That Sparked the Controversy

According to the RTI response:

• Rs. 2,532.59 crore allocated for Sanskrit between 2014–15 and 2024–25

• Only Rs. 147.56 crore spent collectively on:

  • Tamil

  • Telugu

  • Kannada

  • Malayalam

  • Odia

These figures have been cited by opposition parties to support their claims of cultural and linguistic marginalisation.

Implications for Tamil Nadu’s Education System

The decision to revise textbooks marks another step in Tamil Nadu’s decades-long educational autonomy stance, particularly under Dravidian leadership. The state has historically resisted centralised language mandates, including the imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit, dating back to the anti-Hindi agitations of the 1960s.

If implemented, the new curriculum will likely:

• Increase emphasis on Tamil literature, heritage, and history

• Reduce or remove content perceived to promote a singular cultural identity

• Reinforce secular, inclusive, and regionally relevant educational materials

What’s Next?

Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi confirmed that detailed plans for textbook revisions will be made public soon. The awareness campaigns, spearheaded by district collectors, will focus on preventing ideological indoctrination in classrooms and strengthening public school accountability.

In a broader context, Tamil Nadu’s stance reflects growing federal tensions over education policy, cultural representation, and language politics in India.

Conclusion: A Federal vs Cultural Faultline

Tamil Nadu’s firm opposition to the Centre’s Sanskrit emphasis and its efforts to revamp the curriculum underline an enduring cultural and political faultline between the Centre and regional governments, especially in the South.

As the state pushes back with curriculum changes and awareness drives, this issue is expected to gain national attention in the lead-up to broader debates on NEP implementation, funding fairness, and linguistic inclusivity in Indian education.

The message from Tamil Nadu is clear: Every language deserves equal respect, and regional voices cannot be silenced in the name of national unity.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Silky Overseas, Vandan Foods, Pushpa Jewellers, Cedaar Textile, Adcounty Media India, Marc Loire Fashions, Indogulf Cropsciences, Moving Media Entertainment, Valencia India, Neetu Yoshi, PRO FX Tech, Suntech Infra Solutions, Ace Alpha Tech.

The Current active IPO are Rama Telecom, Supertech EV, Sambhav Steel Tubes, HDB Financials, Abram Food, Shri Hare-Krishna Sponge Iron, Icon Facilitators, Globe Civil Projects, Ellenbarrie Indutrial Gases, Kalpataru, AJC Jewel.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.