Dhanush: Not fluent in Tamil is an insult, mother tongue must come first

Actor Dhanush has reignited the language debate with a strong appeal for fluency in one's mother tongue, asserting that lacking command over Tamil is not a matter of pride but an insult. Speaking at an event, the National Award-winning actor urged people, especially Tamils, to prioritise learning their native language above all others.

“To say I’m not fluent in Tamil is not a matter of pride. It’s an insult. Focus on learning Tamil,” Dhanush said, drawing applause from the audience. He recalled a shift in language proficiency patterns since his school days. “When I was in school, we were fluent in Tamil and we struggled with English. Now the situation is opposite,” he observed.

According to the actor, out of every ten people he meets today, eight are not fluent in Tamil. “One should be fluent in their mother tongue before everything else,” he added, making a case for a mother tongue-first approach in education and daily life.

Dhanush’s comments come amid an ongoing political and social debate over language policy in Tamil Nadu. The state has historically resisted what many see as attempts to impose Hindi, with successive governments from various parties opposing the three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Political leaders across the spectrum, including DMK chief M.K. Stalin and TN Vice President Vijay, have accused the Centre of using education policy to push Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states. They argue that such moves threaten the linguistic diversity of India and undermine regional languages like Tamil, one of the oldest classical languages in the world.

The Centre, however, has consistently maintained that the NEP does not impose any language on any state. Officials say the three-language formula is flexible and designed to promote multilingualism, with states free to choose the languages. The Home Ministry has also clarified that Hindi is not being foisted on anyone, and that all Indian languages deserve equal respect.

Language has long been a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu, where a strong cultural identity is closely tied to Tamil. The state witnessed major protests in the 1960s against Hindi imposition, and the current generation continues to guard the language’s prominence in education and administration.

Dhanush’s remarks, while personal in tone, echo these larger concerns. His appeal places the responsibility on individuals to maintain their linguistic roots, even as English and Hindi emerge as common languages for business and mobility. His statement also sparked discussions on social media, with some supporting his view and others arguing that fluency in multiple languages, including English, is essential in a globalised world.

As the debate continues, Dhanush’s words serve as a reminder of the emotional and cultural weight of language in India. For many, fluency in one’s mother tongue is not just a skill but a marker of identity and belonging.