Trichy: The contentious Hindi name boards at the newly constructed Trichy Zonal Railway Office have been removed following intense opposition from political parties and public outcry. The entrance gate of the building had been named ‘Kartavya Dwar’ in Hindi, sparking widespread condemnation across Tamil Nadu.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly criticized the Union BJP government’s decision, describing it as an act of Hindi imposition. “BJP government’s Hindi imposition: A name that does not enter the entrance itself! BJP is going beyond limits in Hindi imposition! The Union BJP government has embarked on the shameful #HindiImposition of writing the same Hindi name in Tamil and English as one language – three fonts! They have written Kardavya Dwar at the entrance gate of the Trichy Zone Railway Office,” he said.
The Chief Minister also cited other instances of what he termed as Hindi imposition, including the naming of Provident Fund Offices as ‘Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan’, the renaming of the Union Ministry of Water Resources as ‘Jal Shakti’, and the use of Sanskrit names in English script for criminal laws. He warned that such actions undermine the self-respect of Tamils.
“The bitterness and arrogance are increasing. We need to teach a proper lesson to those who are trying to undermine the self-respect of Tamils! They should stop trying to impose Hindi in Tamil and English names and immediately include the correct Tamil names. Otherwise, the Union BJP government will have to feel the heat of the Tamils,” Stalin warned.
DMK’s blockade protest at Trichy Railway Station; Widespread opposition
AIADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami and leaders from various political parties also opposed the naming decision, adding to the mounting pressure on the railway administration.
DMK members staged a blockade protest at the Trichy railway station, during which they covered the inscription placed near the Trichy Railway Zone Office with black ink and damaged it. The incident created a tense atmosphere at the location, drawing attention to the intensity of public sentiment against the Hindi name board.
Railway administration concedes
Facing opposition from multiple quarters, the Southern Railway administration agreed to remove the Hindi name boards. Following this decision, all the name plates in the new building have been removed. The removal marks a significant victory for those who opposed what they perceived as an attempt to impose Hindi over the regional language in Tamil Nadu.