Hindi Not India's National Language, Says Former Cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin and BJP Chief K Annamalai

NEW DELHI, THURSDAY - Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Ravichandran Ashwin made a bold statement at a college event in Tamil Nadu, saying Hindi is not the national language of India but an official one. While attending the convocation ceremony of a private college as the chief guest, Ashwin asked the students which language they preferred for his address and observed that most of them favored Tamil.

However, when he mentioned Hindi, there was no response from the audience, with some opting for English instead. Reacting to Ashwin's statement, K Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief and a long-time friend, validated his views, saying that "Hindi is not our national language but rather a link language used as a means of convenience."

Annamalai echoed Ashwin's sentiments, citing that Hindi was not the official language but fell under categories not traditionally recognized in India. The comments from the former Indian bowling all-rounder and Tamil Nadu BJP chief gained considerable attention on social media, generating debate over whether Hindi should be considered the national language of India.

The recent retirement announcement by Ashwin has sparked further discussions about his views on the topic, with many taking notice of his stance as a prominent figure in Indian politics.