Amid the language row, the Tamil Nadu government has taken a significant step by replacing ‘₹’ with ‘ரூ’ symbol in the state budget.
It is noteworthy that the ‘₹’ symbol is the official currency symbol used across India, but the Stalin-led government has decided to replace it with ‘ரூ’, which represents “rupee” in Tamil script.
This is the first time that a state has made such a change in the currency symbol in its budget.
Udaya Kumar: The Man Who Designed India’s Rupee Symbol
The Indian Rupee (₹) symbol was designed by Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam, a scholar and designer by profession.
His design was selected from five shortlisted symbols. According to Dharmalingam, the design is inspired by the Indian tricolour.
An interesting fact is that Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam is the son of N. Dharmalingam, a former MLA of M.K.Stalin’s party DMK.
He designed the symbol of ₹ in 2010, which was officially adopted by the Government of India. Udaya Kumar hails from Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu.
M.K. Stalin Accuses Centre of Forcibly Imposing Hindi
This decision of the Tamil Nadu government has come at a time when there is already a political debate going on in the state regarding anti-Hindi. Recently Chief Minister M.K.Stalin had accused the Central Government of forcibly imposing Hindi.
M.K. Stalin, in a post on social media platform X, stated,
“Ancient languages are disappearing due to attempts to establish a unified Hindi identity. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were never originally Hindi-speaking regions, but now their true languages have been reduced to mere relics of the past.”
Stalin Calls NEP a ‘Saffron Policy’
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has criticised the Central government’s New Education Policy (NEP), calling it a “saffron policy”. “NEP is not an education policy but a saffron agenda aimed at promoting Hindi instead of India’s development. We oppose NEP as it will completely destroy Tamil Nadu’s progress in the education sector,” he said.
According to Stalin, the NEP does not uphold social justice as it does not recognise reservation policies. “The NEP refuses to provide financial assistance to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes,” he alleged. Taking a dig at the BJP, Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s development has suffered a lot in the last 10 years due to such policies.
What Is the Latest NEP Controversy?
The Tamil Nadu government has refused to implement key aspects of the NEP, especially the three-language formula. In response, the central government has withheld the first instalment of ₹573 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). This has further intensified Stalin’s criticism of the Centre. According to the NEP guidelines, states must follow its instructions to receive SSA funding.
What Is the Three-Language Formula?
The NEP 2020 suggests that students should learn three languages, of which at least two should be of Indian origin. This applies to both government and private schools, and states have the freedom to choose languages without any pressure.
The policy clarifies that no state will be forced to adopt a specific language. Additionally, students are free to choose any three languages, provided at least two are Indian languages.
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