DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leading an all-party delegation in Spain, declared India’s national language as “unity in diversity” when asked about it by the Indian diaspora, sparking widespread applause and viral attention. The remarks were made on June 2, 2025, during an address in Madrid. Kanimozhi, heading a delegation including MPs from SP, BJP, RJD, and AAP, was part of India’s global outreach post-Operation Sindoor.
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Her response, emphasizing India’s linguistic and cultural diversity, countered assumptions about a singular national language, aligning with her party’s stance against Hindi imposition. The event occurred in Madrid, the final leg of a five-nation tour to promote India’s anti-terrorism policy.
A Powerful Statement in Madrid
On June 2, 2025, while addressing the Indian diaspora in Madrid, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was asked about India’s national language. Her reply—“The national language of India is unity and diversity. That is the message this delegation brings to the world, and that is the most important thing today”—drew thunderous applause and went viral, with clips shared widely online.
The statement, delivered during India’s diplomatic outreach following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, underscored India’s pluralistic identity. Kanimozhi’s delegation, including MPs Rajeev Rai (SP), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (RJD), Ashok Mittal (AAP), and former ambassadors Manjeev Singh Puri and Jawed Ashraf, aimed to convey India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism.
Context of Linguistic Diversity
India’s Constitution does not designate a national language, recognizing Hindi and English as official languages under Article 343, with 22 scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule, including Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali. Kanimozhi’s response reflected this reality, countering misconceptions that Hindi is India’s national language, a notion often debated due to historical pushes for Hindi prominence.
Her remarks resonated amid Tamil Nadu’s ongoing opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s three-language formula, which the DMK views as imposing Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states. The DMK, rooted in Tamil pride, advocates a two-language system (Tamil and English), accusing the Centre of undermining federalism. Kanimozhi herself has criticized the Centre for withholding funds over NEP compliance, framing her Madrid statement as a subtle jab at Hindi-centric policies .
Diplomatic and Cultural Impact
Kanimozhi’s delegation, part of seven groups visiting 33 countries post-Operation Sindoor, met Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, who expressed “unequivocal support” for India’s anti-terrorism efforts . They also engaged with the Association of Victims of Terrorism in Madrid, sharing India’s experiences with cross-border terrorism . Her “unity in diversity” comment, described as a “masterstroke” by , reinforced India’s global image as a diverse yet cohesive nation, aligning with the delegation’s broader message of resilience against Pakistan-sponsored terror.
A Message Beyond Language
Kanimozhi’s Madrid address, delivered against the backdrop of DMK-Centre tensions over language policy, transcended domestic politics to project India’s strength in diversity. By framing “unity in diversity” as India’s national language, she highlighted the country’s 780 languages and 66 scripts, per the People’s Linguistic Survey of India, as a global asset (Wikipedia, January 10, 2025). Her words, echoing India’s constitutional ethos, not only won hearts in Spain but also reaffirmed India’s commitment to cultural pluralism amid global and regional challenges, cementing her as a voice of inclusive diplomacy.
-By Manoj H
