Former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin recently stirred discussions during a convocation ceremony at a private college in Tamil Nadu. As the chief guest, he emphasized that Hindi is not recognized as the national language of India, but rather as one of its official languages.
During the event, Ashwin engaged with the students by asking them which language they would like him to use for his address. While some opted for English, the majority expressed a preference for Tamil. Notably, when Ashwin mentioned Hindi, there was a notable silence from the audience.
He remarked in Tamil, “Hindi? No response. Let me clarify: it is not our national language but just an official language.” This statement highlights the linguistic diversity present in India, where multiple languages coexist, and regional preferences often take precedence.
Ashwin, who is celebrated as the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history for India, recently announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career in the sport.
