In Tamil Nadu, a railway station name board has once again become the centre of a language controversy, with Hindi letters triggering protests and its eventual removal. Dravidian parties, which have long mobilised anti-Hindi sentiment for political gains, have turned language-related disputes into recurring political flashpoints. After the recent controversy over highway signage in Thoothukudi, the focus has now shifted to Thanjavur railway station.
Following protests by Tamil language chauvinists, railway authorities removed a Hindi-lettered name board from the station’s second entrance on October 8. The board, displaying “Thanjavur Junction” in Hindi, had been installed in front of a replica of the Big Temple tower, prompting objections from political functionaries and pro-Tamil outfits.
On October 7, railway authorities installed name boards in Tamil, English and Hindi. In particular, the Hindi letters were fixed on the Big Temple replica, prompting political functionaries, members of pro-Tamil outfits and social activists to oppose the move by the Railways. A few organisations staged a demonstration late that evening, but the board remained unchanged.
However, on October 8, DMK cadres, along with Left parties and the World Confederation of Tamils, assembled in front of the railway station and staged a protest demanding the removal of the Hindi name board.
Thanjavur DMK MP S Murasoli, MLA Durai Chandrasekaran, Mayor (in charge) Anjugam Boopathi, former mayor Shan Ramanathan and members of Tamil outfits took part in the protest and raised slogans against the railway administration for imposing Hindi in Thanjavur.
Thiruvaiyaru MLA Durai Chandrasekaran of the DMK said, “Hindi imposition has increased in Tamil Nadu because the TVK government failed to oppose it.” Earlier, the protesters had attempted to besiege the railway station.
Thanjavur railway station was renovated at an estimated cost of Rs 21 crore under the Amrit Bharat project, through which separate entry and exit points were established, featuring replicas of the Big Temple at both entrances.
One netizen replied by saying, “It is a central government board. Thanjavur Junction is owned and operated by Indian Railways. Station name boards follow Railways Ministry guidelines, not TN State Government rules. This is how the signage looked in 2023. And this new project started under DMK rule. We need to oppose BJP”.
It is a central govt board. Thanjavur Junction is owned and operated by Indian Railways. Station name boards follow Railways ministry guidelines, not TN state govt rules. This is how the signage looked in 2023.. And this new project started under DMK rule. We need to oppose BJP. https://t.co/wAcuuLRThv pic.twitter.com/hcw1tH8zs9
— Ninja (@MrNinjaXz) October 7, 2026
Another social media activist said, “DMK leadership, led by M.K. Stalin, is blaming the Vijay government for tacitly colluding with the Centre to facilitate the imposition of Hindi in the state. By accusing the TVK of abandoning Tamil Nadu’s historic two-language policy, the DMK aims to position itself as the sole guardian of Tamil identity. As highway signage becomes the latest political battleground, Vijay faces mounting pressure to fiercely defend his government’s linguistic credentials.”
https://t.co/RkX5eeujze
Language row reignites: Will DMK corner Vijay’s TVK over highway 'Hindi imposition'?
According to political sources, the DMK is preparing to intensify its offensive against Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay’s TVK government over an allegedly softening stance… pic.twitter.com/6brgeO05tM— Whispers In The Corridors (@whispersinthec) October 6, 2026
A railway official told the media that the first entrance was too advanced to be altered, but promised a Big Temple tower design at the second entrance. The official added that the work had been completed, but a Hindi board had been installed at the centre of the tower (gopuram), with a Tamil sign to the left and an English one to the right. The standard sequence is the regional language, Hindi and English.
Tamil Nadu – Hindi signboard at Thanjavur Railway Station removed after protest by Tamil organisations. pic.twitter.com/yARff9ffwg
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) October 8, 2026
A couple of days ago, another controversy erupted over brown medicine covers printed in Hindi, English and Tamil, which were to be given to patients with details of dosage, timings, and whether the medicines should be taken before or after food. The brown covers were given to patients in Coimbatore and Karur in government run hospitals.
However, the concerned hospital DMOs and the Dean said that the covers had been in use for the past 15 months and that orders had been issued during the previous DMK regime.
Without knowing this, former DMK minister TRB Rajaa and former Chief Minister M K Stalin raised objections, blaming the C Joseph Vijay-led government for following the BJP’s three-language policy and imposing Hindi in Tamil Nadu.
Ok looks like the Hindi board on 2nd entrance of Thanjavur junction was removed by railways itself after local DMK announced agitation against the same. What was TVK doing while the board was being erected by railways in front of the Big temple replica? pic.twitter.com/it2EvPnUW6
— தாண்டவம் (@saivamtamil) October 8, 2026
Activists question whether the so-called Tamil chauvinists would tear up passports or Central Government documents containing Hindi letters. Merely black-tarring railway signage is not the right form of protest. Why do they not stop CBSE schools that follow the three-language formula, including Hindi? They will not, because those schools are owned by them. The kins of politicians are studying Hindi, German and French, which is not objectionable to them. Only opposition to Hindi and Sanskrit, while promoting Urdu and Arabian languages, is considered acceptable.
The ‘lingua franca bigots’ should shed their opposition to Hindi or any other language. This is not the 1960s. Today’s youth want to study and move to other parts of the country. What one reads, eats and wears is a matter of personal choice, not something for politicians to dictate.
