‘What’s India's national language?’: MP Kanimozhi’s reply in Spain goes viral | WATCH
Madrid, Spain: DMK Member of Parliament Kanimozhi, currently leading an all-party delegation abroad, made headlines after a video of her response to a sensitive language question went viral on social media.
While addressing the Indian diaspora in Spain, she was asked, “What is the national language of India?” Her reply — “The national language of India is unity in diversity” — drew applause from the audience and triggered widespread reactions online.
The moment struck a chord particularly due to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) longstanding opposition to the Centre’s three-language formula, a key component of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The DMK has consistently maintained that Tamil Nadu will not accept the imposition of Hindi, arguing that language should not be politicised or used to enforce cultural homogenisation.
Kanimozhi has previously accused the BJP-led central government of penalising Tamil Nadu for resisting NEP 2020 by withholding educational funds. She has also argued that the policy undermines regional languages and puts non-Hindi-speaking students at a disadvantage.
The DMK’s opposition has included protests inside and outside Parliament, highlighting the regional party’s resistance to what it perceives as centralisation of education and language policy. Kanimozhi’s remark in Spain, therefore, is being seen not just as a diplomatic answer but also a pointed assertion of India’s pluralism on the international stage.
The viral video has reignited debate in India over the idea of a "national language", with many pointing out that India, constitutionally, does not have one. Hindi and English are official languages, but the country officially recognises 22 scheduled languages, with states free to adopt their own official languages.
The message of “unity in diversity” echoed Kanimozhi’s broader stance on federalism and inclusivity, and has been praised for reframing the question in a way that underlines India's multilingual, multicultural foundation.