Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has urged the Union Government to permit the continued teaching of French in government schools under the CBSE [1].
The request seeks to protect the linguistic heritage of the Union Territory by integrating French into the CBSE three-language framework [1]. Because French is deeply tied to the region's colonial history and administration, its removal or restriction from the curriculum could erode a primary pillar of local cultural identity [1].
Rangasamy said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should recognize French as a regional language, placing it within the R3 category [2]. This classification would ensure that students in government schools can continue studying the language without violating national educational frameworks [1].
The Chief Minister linked the language's importance to the legal and historical foundations of the region. "French is not merely a foreign language but an integral part of our historical and cultural identity shaped by the Treaty of Cession and our long‑standing association with France," Rangasamy said [1].
By pursuing the R3 regional language status, the Puducherry government aims to bridge the gap between the Central Board of Secondary Education's standardized requirements and the specific historical needs of the territory [2]. The administration argues that the language serves as a living link to the past, and a tool for maintaining international ties with France [1].
The proposal emphasizes that the Treaty of Cession established a unique relationship between the territory and France, making the language more than a secondary academic subject [1]. Rangasamy said the recognition is necessary to ensure the continuity of this legacy for future generations of students in government-run institutions [2].
“"French is not merely a foreign language but an integral part of our historical and cultural identity"”
This request represents a tension between India's national standardized education goals and the preservation of regional specificities. By seeking an 'R3' regional classification, Puducherry is attempting to bypass the 'foreign language' label, which often carries different funding and curriculum requirements than regional languages. If granted, this could set a precedent for other Union Territories with colonial histories to seek similar linguistic exemptions to preserve their cultural heritage.
