Hindi -- a language that was once anathema in Tamil Nadu -- is now being used with aplomb. No, Tamilians are not forsaking Tamil, but the canny DMK has taken to Hindi to woo North Indian voters from central Chennai.


In probably, what is a first, in the state, the DMK's Lok Sabha candidate from central Chennai - Dayanidhi Maran -- has been speaking in Hindi. Our sources tell us that he has memorised a few sentences in Hindi and has been using them every time he canvasses in these north Indian pockets.    

"Maran participated in the Holi exhibition organised by the Rajasthan Youth Association at the YMCA grounds at Royapettah and wooed the electorate there," said Sanjay Bhansali of Sowcarpet. Maran asked the Marwari community to vote for him in Chennai and for the BJP in Rajasthan, said another member.

Apart from the Marwari community in Sowcarpet, who have been part of Chennai for many decades, the Hindi-speaking migrant workers have also increased the average Tamilian's tolerance to Hindi.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi's Hindi verses promoting brotherhood among communities have helped Maran go the extra mile in trying to attract the largely north Indian and Urdu speaking Muslim voters in Central Chennai.

With M K Stalin as the person in command of the party, a tough stance on Hindi has been put on the back burner as he is seen to be
accommodative of other cultures.


DMK has taken credit for Tamil being given the status of a classical language, but sharing power in Delhi has also meant that the leaders pick up a bit of Hindi. "This is also a major factor for the second-rung leaders going soft on the language issue," said Dravidian commentator Subagunarajan.

Pic: A poster of Dayanidhi Maran asking the people to vote for the sun symbol.


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