Raj Thackeray, the chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has reignited the debate over language policy in Maharashtra's schools by demanding that only Marathi and English be taught from the first grade. In a letter addressed to School Education Minister Dada Bhuse on June 2, 2025, Thackeray urged the state government to issue a formal order mandating this two-language policy, threatening protests from the MNS if the demand is not met. This demand follows a period of confusion and controversy surrounding the potential imposition of Hindi as a compulsory third language in primary schools.

The state government had previously announced that Hindi would be mandatory for students in Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools. This decision sparked immediate backlash from various political parties, including the MNS, who argued that it was an unnecessary imposition. Raj Thackeray and his party vehemently opposed the move, asserting that they would not allow the compulsory teaching of Hindi in the state. Facing strong opposition, the government eventually stayed its order, with Minister Bhuse promising a new government resolution on the matter.

In his recent letter, Thackeray questioned the rationale behind the initial decision to introduce a three-language formula. He argued that young children should not be burdened with learning three languages and pointed out that Hindi is not the national language of India but rather one of many regional languages. He further inquired whether the government was under any external pressure to promote Hindi in the state. Thackeray also highlighted that despite the government's clarification that Hindi would no longer be compulsory, no formal written directive had been issued, leading to continued uncertainty and the potential printing of Hindi textbooks based on the original decision.

Thackeray has called for the government to stand by its public assurance and issue a clear, official order stating that only Marathi and English will be taught from Grade 1 onwards in state board schools. He drew attention to the fact that several other states in India have already adopted a two-language pattern, discarding mandatory Hindi to protect their linguistic identity, and urged the Maharashtra government to demonstrate similar pride and protect the Marathi language. He warned that failure to comply with this demand would result in agitations led by the MNS, emphasizing the party's commitment to preserving the prominence of Marathi in the state's education system.

The MNS chief has also appealed to the Marathi-speaking population to assert their linguistic rights, stating that the party's efforts have successfully raised awareness about the issue. He believes it is now up to the community to insist on the use of Marathi in various establishments and ensure its continued importance in the state. This latest move by Raj Thackeray underscores the sensitivity surrounding language politics in Maharashtra and the ongoing debate about the role of regional languages in the education system.