‘What Is Wrong If Students In TN Learn…,’ Says Dharmendra Pradhan At Hindu College – News18

Last Updated:February 17, 2025, 14:45 IST

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Hindu College has managed to maintain top place in NIRF and other rankings for the past few years. 

Delhi University’s Hindu College celebrated its 126th Founder’s Day on Monday. While attending the celebrations as a Chief Guest, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the institute has managed to maintain top place in NIRF and other rankings for the past few years.

“Institutes are not just buildings…the library built here reminded me of my college days,” he said adding that the college is implementing NEP 2020.

“47% of our population is between the ages of 0 to 25 years. Our youth needs employment, they need economic empowerment… we also need job creators and not just job seekers as mentioned in NEP. Along with teaching and research, we also need innovation,” he added.

The minister also spoke on the three-language policy row. Pradhan said he respects all languages and said students can also learn English and other Indian languages apart from their mother tongue. He further added that there is no imposition of Hindi or English or any other language, reported ANI.

“…To create competition among students, to create a level-playing field, we have to come to a common platform. NEP is the new aspirational common platform. I respect all languages. This NEP, envisioned by PM Modi is giving emphasis to the mother tongue…Tamil is one of the oldest languages of our civilisation. But what is wrong if a student in Tamil Nadu will learn multilingual aspect in education? It can be Tamil, English and other Indian languages. There is no imposition of Hindi or any other language on them. Some friends in Tamil Nadu are doing politics. But Govt of India is committed to implementing NEP and there are certain conditions with NEP…,” Pradhan told the news agency.

This comes after Chief Minister M K Stalin claimed that the Education Minister had said that Tamil Nadu would not be provided funds till such time it accepted the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula. Calling it “blackmail”, Stalin asked Pradhan to specify the Constitutional provision that made the three-language policy of English, regional language, and Hindi mandatory. Stalin called it unacceptable and said the Tamil people would not tolerate it.