National insurer Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has come under fire for a language controversy surrounding its official website. Users in Tamil Nadu criticised the website for prioritising Hindi, leaving non-Hindi-speaking customers struggling to access services.
LIC later, after being criticised by the general public and political leaders, clarified that the issue arose from a technical glitch and stated, “Our corporate website was not shuffling the language page due to some technical problem. The issue is resolved now, and the website is available in English/Hindi language. Inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.”
The LIC website has been reduced to a propaganda tool for Hindi imposition. Even the option to select English is displayed in Hindi!
This is nothing but cultural and language imposition by force, trampling on India's diversity. LIC grew with the patronage of all Indians. How… pic.twitter.com/BxHzj28aaX
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) November 19, 2024
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly condemned the incident, accusing LIC of pushing “Hindi imposition.” He remarked, “The LIC website has been reduced to a propaganda tool for Hindi imposition. Even the option to select English is displayed in Hindi! This is cultural and linguistic imposition, trampling on India’s diversity.” Stalin further demanded an immediate rollback, labelling the act as “linguistic tyranny.”
LIC revamped their website and made it all Hindi. If you can't read Hindi, there is no way you can use this website. Even though the option to switch to English is given, it is hidden is some corner and you need to know how to read "भाषा" in Hindi to figure it out.
What was… pic.twitter.com/sFaGp3FuKa
— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) November 18, 2024
Dr S Ramadoss, founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), echoed these sentiments, criticising LIC for alienating non-Hindi speakers. He pointed out that Tamil Nadu, with a significant LIC customer base, deserves equal treatment. He added, “The homepage should immediately revert to English. LIC belongs to all people, not just Hindi speakers.”
The LIC Website is now by default, opening completely in Hindi, including the button, which one needs to click on to switch the language.
Hindi Is NOT the language all of us speak by default and for those who know neither English nor Hindi, this is draconian and alienating.
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) November 19, 2024
The controversy ties into Tamil Nadu’s long history of resisting Hindi imposition, dating back to anti-Hindi agitations in the 1930s and 1960s. These movements played a pivotal role in bringing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to power. Stalin’s remarks also draw attention to ongoing disputes with the central government, including recent criticism of Governor RN Ravi for actions seen as undermining Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian identity.
Our corporate website was not shuffling the language page due to some technical problem. The issue is resolved now, and the website is available in English/Hindi language. Inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.
-Team LIC— LIC India Forever (@LICIndiaForever) November 19, 2024
