It was yet another predictable day in Indian politics last week when DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran raised an objection in the Lok Sabha over the inclusion of Sanskrit in simultaneous interpretation services. The move, in line with the Dravidian party’s long-standing ideological opposition, sparked an exchange that ultimately prompted Speaker Om Birla to ask the most fundamental question: What’s your problem with Sanskrit? It wasn’t just a retort. It was a moment of clarity that underscored the absurdity of a debate that has festered for decades.

Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian political movement has, since its inception, treated Sanskrit not as an ancient linguistic treasure but as a political adversary. The resistance against it is not rooted in linguistic logic but in a broader ideological opposition to anything perceived as connected to Hindu traditions, North India, or Brahminical connection.

The DMK’s opposition to Sanskrit is neither new nor unexpected. It is a legacy of the Dravidian movement led by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, which framed its struggle as one against Brahmin dominance, Hindu traditions, and what it called North Indian cultural hegemony. Over time, however, what started as a........

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