07/07/2025
On Sunday, Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai, during a visit to his former school in Mumbai, stated that studying in one’s mother tongue provides a deeper understanding of subjects and contributes to the development of enduring values. His remarks come amid an ongoing debate in Maharashtra over the government’s move to introduce Hindi as a compulsory third language from Class 1.
CJI Gavai visited Chikitsak Samuh Shirodkar School in Girgaon, where he studied from Class 3 to 7, on an invitation from his former classmates Vinayak Joshi and Satish Saraf. His visit took place in the backdrop of the Mahayuti government’s attempt to implement Hindi as a mandatory third language in primary schools, in line with the National Education Policy, 2020. The government had issued two resolutions to that effect, both of which were withdrawn on June 29 following public and political opposition.
The proposed introduction of Hindi sparked a state-wide reaction, as language continues to be a sensitive issue in Maharashtra. The state was created following an agitation for a separate Marathi-speaking region in the 1950s. The linguistic identity of the “Marathi manoos” has remained central to state politics, particularly in Mumbai. The late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray often mobilised sentiments around regional and linguistic identity, leading to protests that occasionally turned violent.
During his address at the school, CJI Gavai remarked, “My education in my mother tongue has never had any adverse effect on my professional journey.” He further stated, “Learning in one’s mother tongue helps build a strong foundation. Once that is firm, you can stand in any situation.”
