Dravidian Political Philosophy and Education
Education forms the core of the Dravidian political philosophy, emphasizing self-respect, social justice, and equitable access. The Justice Party government initiated universal education in 1920, mandating compulsory elementary education for both boys and girls.
Two-Language Formula
- Implemented in Tamil Nadu, this comprises:
- Tamil, the mother tongue
- English, a global link language
- This formula has contributed to high literacy rates and a higher education enrolment ratio of 47% compared to the national average of 28.4%.
NEP and Central Government's Conditions
The Union government has imposed conditions for releasing Tamil Nadu's share of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan funds, insisting on the implementation of the NEP, including a three-language formula.
- This demand is seen as political extortion and against the Constitution.
- Adding a third language increases costs and may overload students without proven benefits.
- There is concern about the erosion of native languages.
Preservation of Tamil Language
Tamil Nadu has ongoing initiatives to preserve and modernize Tamil, such as the KaniTamil Manaadu and digitization projects by the Tamil Virtual Academy.
Constitutional Concerns and Political Implications
The central government's actions are viewed as unconstitutional, involving fund allocation politicization and coercion of non-BJP states.
- Examples include restricting state borrowing and imposing constraints on lending.
Resistance to Hindi Imposition
- Tamil Nadu historically resists Hindi imposition, commemorating January 25 as Language Martyr's Day.
