Niccolò Machiavelli, the Western political philosopher, stated, “Politics has no relation to morals." In contrast, Mahatma Gandhi believed that “politics should be guided by Dharma (righteousness) and Ahimsa (non-violence), ensuring the well-being of all citizens, especially the poor and marginalised."

These opposing visions encapsulate the distinct worldviews of the West and Bharat. The Bharatiya concept of politics and power, unlike Western political thought, has historically been rooted in public welfare, as exemplified by Shri Ram, Emperor Yudhishthira, and, in modern times, Gandhi or Ambedkar. Regrettably, many politicians in Bharat, swayed more by Machiavellian pragmatism than Gandhian principles, have pursued an immoral path devoid of dharma or righteousness.

In the latest instance, Maharashtra has witnessed the resurgence of this immoral, divisive politics centred on opposing the Hindi language. Leaders such as Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have aligned themselves, despite years of political rivalry, under the banner of Marathi identity to oppose Hindi or beating Hindi-speaking north Indian people, portraying them as a threat to the cultural and linguistic fabric of Maharashtra. However, a closer examination reveals that this anti-Hindi narrative is driven more by narrow political self-interest than genuine concern for the welfare of the “Marathi Manus"—the common Marathi people.

Narrow or sectarian politics prioritises self-interest over public welfare, social harmony, or national unity. Politicians engaged in such tactics often manipulate public sentiment by raising false issues based on caste, region, or language, diverting attention from real developmental concerns. Unfortunately, such low-level politics has been present in India since Independence, where the interests of politicians take precedence over the welfare of citizens and the nation.

The current controversy arose when the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government, under chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, issued a directive making Hindi compulsory as a third language for students in grades 1 to 5. Though the order aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends early exposure to two Indian languages,........

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