In a surprising yet ambitious statement, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced his plan to promote 10 languages in every university across the state. Addressing a public gathering, he emphasized the need for multilingual education, highlighting the benefits of learning Telugu, English, Hindi, and international languages.
“We should promote Telugu and English, but it is better to learn Hindi so that we can mingle with people easily,” Naidu remarked. He further stressed that international languages would help students study abroad and find better career opportunities globally.
While the three-language policy has long been a topic of debate in India, Naidu’s proposal to introduce ten languages is an unprecedented move. Critics argue that implementing such a plan would be challenging, given the limited resources and faculty constraints in universities. However, supporters believe that multilingual education will enhance employability, foster cultural exchange, and boost India’s global standing.
With this announcement, the Andhra Pradesh government has stirred fresh discussions on language education policies. Will other states follow suit, or will this remain an ambitious but impractical vision? Only time will tell.