The Tamil Nadu government, led by the DMK, has removed the Devanagari-script rupee symbol (₹) from its state Budget 2025-26 logo and replaced it with a Tamil letter. The logo now features the Tamil character “ru,” which represents “rubaai,” the Tamil word for rupee. This change comes amid ongoing tensions between the state and the central government over language policies, including the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP).
Political Reactions to the Change
The removal of the rupee symbol has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman condemned the move, calling it “a completely avoidable example of language and regional chauvinism.” She argued that such actions weaken India’s unity and promote divisive sentiments under the guise of regional pride.
BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai also criticized the decision, pointing out that the rupee symbol was designed by a Tamilian, D. Udaya Kumar, and was officially adopted by the UPA government in 2010. He questioned why the DMK government would remove a national symbol that was originally designed by someone from their own state.
Sitharaman further pointed out that the Tamil word “rubaai” has roots in the Sanskrit word “rupya,” meaning “wrought silver” or “a worked silver coin.” She noted that the rupee symbol (₹) is internationally recognized and serves as India’s financial identity. She warned that removing it from Tamil Nadu’s budget documents could undermine India’s position in global financial transactions, especially when the country is promoting cross-border payments through UPI.
DMK’s Justification for the Change
The ruling DMK has defended its decision, stating that it wants to prioritize the Tamil language over Devanagari script. A source from the Chief Minister’s Office said, “This year, we have given importance to Tamil.” DMK spokesperson Savaranan Annadurai echoed this, saying that the move was simply a way to celebrate Tamil language and culture.
The DMK has been vocal in opposing what it calls “Hindi imposition” by the BJP-led central government. The party has also clashed with the Centre over the issue of delimitation, a process that could reduce Tamil Nadu’s parliamentary seats in future elections. Earlier this month, an all-party meeting in Tamil Nadu passed a resolution urging the Centre to delay delimitation by at least 30 years. The DMK has also invited Chief Ministers from seven states to a meeting on March 22 to discuss the issue.
Designer of the Rupee Symbol Reacts
D. Udaya Kumar, the man who designed the rupee symbol, is now the head of the design department at IIT Guwahati. When asked about the DMK government’s decision, he said he was unaware of the reasons behind the change.
“The language debate has been ongoing for a long time. I am an academician, and I do not want to be involved in politics. Yes, my father was a politician, but my siblings and I have stayed away from politics,” he said.
The rupee symbol he designed was officially approved in 2010 when Pranab Mukherjee was the Union Finance Minister under the UPA government.
Broader Implications
This controversy is part of a larger debate over language and regional identity in India. Tamil Nadu has historically resisted efforts to impose Hindi and has taken several measures to promote Tamil in governance and public life. The removal of the rupee symbol from the budget logo is seen as another step in this direction.
While the DMK insists that the change is about linguistic pride, the BJP sees it as an attempt to stir regional sentiments against the Centre. The issue is likely to continue fueling political debates in the run-up to future elections.
-
-
-
-
-
-
