At THE WEEK Tamil Nadu Leadership Summit, senior parliamentarian Kanimozhi Karunanidhi mounted a strong defence of linguistic identity, arguing that the debate around the three-language formula is as much about power as it is about pedagogy.
In a conversation with Mathew T. George, News Editor of THE WEEK, Kanimozhi rejected the idea that learning Hindi is essential for national integration or employment. “If I applied for a job, would you reject me because I don’t know Hindi?” she asked, drawing applause from the audience. She maintained that English already serves as a bridge language—within India and globally—and that in an age of AI-powered real-time translation tools, language need not become a barrier.
Framing the issue politically, she said attempts to impose a third language amount to “imposing power,” warning that replacing a community’s language risks eroding its history, culture and sense of self. She cited how several Indian languages have faded over time, arguing that linguistic homogenisation threatens diversity.
Kanimozhi also questioned funding priorities, pointing to the disproportionate allocation of central funds for Sanskrit compared to Tamil, and asked whether such moves signal deeper political preferences. At the same time, she suggested that efforts to enforce language policies have inadvertently revived interest among young people in Tamil identity and leaders such as Periyar.
Beyond policy, she reflected on what she described as a decline in the seriousness of parliamentary debate, lamenting that discussions and Question Hour no longer receive the weight they once did.
Drawing from her upbringing in a home steeped in literature and debate, Kanimozhi described language as deeply personal—“your identity, your roots”—arguing that holding onto one’s linguistic heritage is not divisive but foundational. “If I don’t understand who I am, how will I recognise who you are?” she said.