Malayalam Language Bill 2025 Sparks Fresh Language Row Between Karnataka and Kerala

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Kerala’s
proposed
Malayalam
Language
Bill
2025
has
triggered
a
fresh
political
and
linguistic
dispute
with
Karnataka,
with
leaders
and
Kannada
organisations
expressing
concern
over
its
potential
impact
on
Kannada-speaking
communities
in
border
regions
such
as
Kasaragod
and
Manjeshwar.
While
the
Kerala
government
says
the
Bill
strengthens
Malayalam
as
the
state’s
official
language
with
safeguards
for
minorities,
leaders
in
Karnataka
argue
that
it
could
weaken
Kannada-medium
education
in
northern
Kerala.

The
Bill,
which
has
been
cleared
by
the
Kerala
cabinet,
seeks
to
make
Malayalam
the
compulsory
first
language
from
Class
1
to
Class
10
in
all
schools
across
the
state.
This
includes
government,
aided
and
private
institutions,
as
well
as
Kannada-medium
schools
operating
in
border
districts.
Kannada
groups
fear
that
such
a
move
will
directly
affect
students
from
families
that
identify
culturally
and
linguistically
with
Karnataka.

Political
Tensions
Add
to
the
Dispute

The
language
row
comes
amid
heightened
political
tensions
between
the
two
states.
Kerala
is
expected
to
head
into
assembly
elections
within
the
next
three
to
four
months,
adding
a
political
dimension
to
the
controversy.
Recently,
the
Kerala
government
drew
criticism
in
Karnataka
after
intervening
in
the
demolition
of
illegal
buildings
at
Kogilu
Layout
in
Bengaluru.
Kannada
organisations
and
political
parties
now
allege
that
the
language
Bill
is
another
step
that
undermines
the
interests
of
Kannada
speakers.

Across
party
lines,
leaders
in
Karnataka
have
opposed
the
Bill,
calling
it
an
imposition
on
linguistic
minorities.
Karnataka
Chief
Minister
Siddaramaiah
has
urged
the
Kerala
government
to
withdraw
the
proposed
law,
stating
that
it
violates
the
spirit
of
constitutional
protections
for
language
freedom.

Impact
on
Border
Kannada
Schools

The
core
concern
centres
on
Kannada-medium
schools
in
Kasaragod
and
Manjeshwar.
Under
the
Bill,
Malayalam
would
become
the
mandatory
first
language
even
for
students
enrolled
in
Kannada-medium
sections.
Karnataka
leaders
argue
that
this
will
dilute
Kannada-medium
education
and
weaken
long-standing
linguistic
ties
with
Karnataka.

Many
parents
in
Kasaragod
choose
Kannada-medium
schools
precisely
to
preserve
their
cultural
identity.
Critics
say
forcing
Malayalam
as
the
primary
language
subject
disregards
the
wishes
of
linguistic
minorities
and
could
reduce
the
role
of
Kannada
in
classrooms
over
time.

Historical
and
Legal
Background

Kerala
had
introduced
a
similar
language
proposal
in
2016,
which
was
rejected
by
the
Governor
on
the
grounds
that
it
worked
against
the
interests
of
linguistic
minorities.
The
current
government
has
now
reintroduced
a
revised
version,
claiming
that
it
includes
protections
for
non-Malayalam
speakers.
However,
protests
and
opposition
in
Karnataka
indicate
that
concerns
remain
unresolved.

Senior
leaders
across
Karnataka’s
political
spectrum
have
condemned
the
renewed
attempt
to
pass
the
Bill,
insisting
that
the
state
government
must
actively
safeguard
the
rights
of
Kannada-speaking
children
in
Kerala’s
border
districts.

Concerns
in
Kasaragod
and
Manjeshwar

Kasaragod
and
Manjeshwar
are
home
to
large
Kannada-speaking
populations
with
deep
historical
and
cultural
links
to
Karnataka.
Kannada
activists
point
out
that
these
regions
have
made
significant
contributions
to
Kannada
literature,
cultural
movements
and
language
activism.

There
are
over
194
Kannada-medium
schools
in
Kasaragod
district
alone,
while
Kerala
as
a
whole
has
around
202
Kannada-medium
schools.
According
to
local
estimates,
nearly
70
per
cent
of
students
in
Kasaragod
prefer
Kannada
as
the
medium
of
instruction.
Community
members
fear
that
once
the
Bill
is
implemented,
these
schools
could
gradually
undergo
“Malayalamisation”,
reducing
the
use
of
Kannada
in
education
and
administration.

Karnataka
Leaders
Cite
Constitutional
Rights

Siddaramaiah
has
framed
the
dispute
as
a
constitutional
issue,
arguing
that
forcing
a
single
first
language
on
minority
communities
violates
linguistic
freedom.
He
said
India’s
strength
lies
in
its
multilingual
and
multicultural
fabric
and
warned
against
policies
that
could
weaken
this
diversity.

He
noted
that
people
in
Kasaragod
have
studied
in
Kannada
for
generations
and
continue
to
use
Kannada
in
their
daily
lives.
According
to
him,
a
majority
of
students
in
the
district
prefer
to
study
in
Kannada
and
should
not
be
compelled
to
shift
their
primary
language
against
their
will.

Kannada
and
Culture
Minister
Shivraj
Tangadagi
has
also
taken
a
strong
stand.
Recalling
his
visit
to
the
Edaneeru
Mutt
about
a
year
and
a
half
ago,
where
Kannada-medium
educational
activities
are
conducted,
Tangadagi
said
the
experience
highlighted
how
central
Kannada
remains
to
life
in
Kasaragod.

He
said
that
the
language,
culture
and
everyday
life
of
the
people
there
are
deeply
rooted
in
Kannada,
adding
that
during
his
visit,
he
barely
felt
he
was
in
Kerala.
In
that
context,
he
questioned
the
Kerala
government’s
decision
to
push
through
such
a
Bill.

District
in-charge
minister
and
Health
and
Family
Welfare
Minister
Dinesh
Gundu
Rao
has
also
stated
that
the
Malayalam
Language
Bill
2025
goes
against
the
interests
of
the
Kannada-speaking
linguistic
minority
in
Kerala.

Debate
Continues

As
the
debate
intensifies,
Karnataka’s
political
leadership
appears
united
in
opposing
the
Bill.
Leaders
insist
that
Kerala
must
reconsider
the
move
and
respect
the
linguistic
choices
of
border
residents.
For
families
in
Kasaragod
and
Manjeshwar,
the
immediate
concern
remains
whether
their
children
will
be
able
to
continue
studying
in
Kannada-medium
schools
without
pressure
to
adopt
Malayalam
as
their
first
language.

The
coming
months,
especially
in
the
run-up
to
Kerala’s
assembly
elections,
are
expected
to
determine
whether
the
proposed
law
is
amended,
withdrawn,
or
pushed
through
despite
opposition
from
Karnataka.