Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has ignited a major political controversy with his recent comments describing Sanskrit as a "dead language" while highlighting significant disparities in central government funding for classical languages.
The Controversial Statement
During a book launch event in Chennai on November 21, 2025, Udhayanidhi Stalin made his remarks that immediately drew nationwide attention. The DMK leader pointed to what he called an alarming imbalance in budgetary allocations, stating that only Rs 150 crore was allotted for Tamil development compared to Rs 2,400 crore for Sanskrit promotion.
This is not the first time the young leader has sparked controversy with his phrasing. In 2023, he had characterized Sanatana Dharma as something that "must be eradicated," drawing sharp criticism from BJP leaders who accused him of attacking Hinduism itself.
Political Backlash and Defense
The BJP's response to Udhayanidhi's latest comments was swift and forceful. Former state BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan told PTI that "no one has the right to call any language dead, especially the one that is still used today in prayers and rituals across the country."
Soundararajan offered a nuanced linguistic perspective, noting that "Tamil is an open-hearted language that has absorbed words and ideas from many tongues, including Sanskrit. This shows its strength, not its weakness." Her remarks reflected academic consensus that classical languages in South Asia developed through cultural exchange rather than isolation.
Meanwhile, K Annamalai, another former Tamil Nadu BJP chief, shifted the blame to the state government, arguing that "the state government itself has failed to develop Tamil" and suggesting that if Tamil requires greater institutional support, the DMK should be held accountable rather than Delhi.
The Funding Disparity Numbers
The financial imbalance highlighted by Udhayanidhi is supported by official data. According to a December 19, 2022 reply to the Lok Sabha, the Central Sanskrit University in Delhi received approximately Rs 1,487.84 crore in grants between 2014-15 and 2021-22 for promoting Sanskrit, along with Pali and Prakrit languages.
In stark contrast, the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) in Chennai received only Rs 74.1 crore during the same period. The CICT has faced persistent challenges including administrative control issues, staffing problems, research stagnation, and inadequate expansion funding.
Sanskrit receives central funds through multiple channels including the Central Sanskrit University, central schemes for Sanskrit promotion, manuscript missions, scholarships, fellowships, and university departments under the Ministry of Education.
Scholarly Perspectives and Cultural Context
Language scholars who spoke to The Indian Express emphasized that the controversy represents deeper questions about India's cultural priorities. One leading scholar noted that Sanskrit contains "Kalidasa's poetry, Bharata's dramaturgy, Panini's linguistic precision, Aryabhata's mathematics, and philosophical traditions that have influenced the world."
The scholar stressed that "the language is not responsible for historical social exclusion" and that while the political debate about cultural politics is crucial, it's better to "blame political and religious institutions, not the language."
Another scholar pointed out that Tamil boasts an impressive legacy including Sangam literature, Thirukkural, Silappadhikaram, Siddha poetry, Bhakti movements, and grammatical works like Tolkappiyam, along with a contemporary cinematic and academic presence unmatched among Indian languages.
Broader Political Implications
The language funding debate occurs at a critical time for poll-bound Tamil Nadu, a state with a history of resistance to centralization. The controversy has become a proxy for larger discussions about autonomy, federalism, representation, and identity.
As one scholar summarized the core issue: "Tamil is asking for parity." The scholar emphasized that Sanskrit, which he described as "elegant, ancient, and enduring, is not the villain in that demand. The policy choices are the villains."
The Union government has consistently defended its Sanskrit allocations by citing heritage preservation, academic continuity, and the language's relevance to philosophy, mathematics, linguistics, and religious studies. Sanskrit remains one of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and continues to shape Hindu liturgical life.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu leaders argue that Tamil, with its longer unbroken literary tradition, global diaspora, modern publishing ecosystem, digital evolution, and continued everyday use, deserves more substantial recognition and support from the central government.
