Ravichandran Ashwin, whose recent retirement surprised the cricketing world and his fans, stated that Hindi is “not our national language but an official language” – a remark that could ignite a debate. He made this comment during the graduation ceremony of a private engineering college in Tamil Nadu, a state where the use of Hindi has historically been a sensitive topic, often provoking strong reactions.
While addressing the students, Ashwin inquired if they would prefer asking questions in Hindi if they were not comfortable speaking in English or Tamil.
“English students in the house – give me a yay,” he called out, receiving a loud cheer in response. “Tamil” – this prompted an even louder roar from the students. “Okay, Hindi?” At this, the audience fell silent. “I thought I should say this. Hindi is not our national language; it is an official language,” Ashwin continued, speaking in Tamil.
Tamil Nadu: Former off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says, “…I thought I’d say it all. It’s (Hindi) not our national language; It’s an official language. Okay, anyway”
(09/01/2025) pic.twitter.com/bR47icWZEU
— IANS (@ians_india) January 10, 2025
The comment could spark fresh debate at a time when several opposition parties, including Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, have accused the Centre of attempting to impose Hindi on states, particularly in the South.
At the same event, Ashwin also addressed the topic of Team India’s captaincy. The veteran off-spinner provided a measured response.
“When someone says I can’t do it, I wake up to accomplish it, but if they say I can, I lose interest,” Ashwin explained.
He also shared insights from his own background as an engineering graduate. Drawing from his experiences, Ashwin urged students to remain steadfast in their journey and to never give up, even during moments of doubt.
“Had any engineering staff told me I couldn’t become captain, I would have worked harder,” he added, motivating the students to stay determined and focused when faced with challenges.
“If you are a student, you will never stop. If you aren’t, learning will cease, and excellence will just be a word in your cupboard,” he said, emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning.
