Amit Shah Pushes for Tamil in Medical and Engineering Education

Tamil Nadu - Why isn’t Tamil Nadu teaching in Tamil? That’s the question Union Home Minister Amit Shah has posed, urging Chief Minister M. K. Stalin to introduce medical and engineering courses in Tamil. This demand has sparked a heated debate: should professional education prioritize regional languages over English?  

Shah argues that allowing students to pursue degrees in their mother tongue would democratize education, making it more accessible for rural and economically disadvantaged students. India has already introduced engineering courses in Hindi, and the push for regional-language learning aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for linguistic inclusivity.  

However, critics see this as a political move rather than an educational reform. Tamil Nadu has historically resisted Hindi imposition, priding itself on its English-medium higher education. The state’s top medical and engineering institutions, including Anna University and Madras Medical College, follow global standards where English remains dominant.  

The question remains: will students trained in Tamil be able to compete in national and international job markets? While linguistic pride is vital, the globalized economy still demands English proficiency. Adapting technical terminology into Tamil is another challenge—medical and engineering sciences have complex jargon that may not translate seamlessly.