Hindi speaking gives me shivers, I speak it with hesitation: FM Sitharaman

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said speaking Hindi gives her "shivers" and she speaks the language with hesitation.

Speaking at an event organised by the Hindi Vivek Magazine, Sitharaman referred to a previous speaker's announcement that her speech will be in Hindi.

"Addressing an audience in Hindi gives me shivers," a candid Sitharaman said, explaining the circumstances that have led to this condition.

Sitharaman said she was born and attended college in Tamil Nadu which was in the midst of an agitation against Hindi and also witnessed violent protests against Hindi.

Students opting for either Hindi or Sanskrit as the second language, even those who stood in merit lists, did not get scholarships given by the state government because of their choices of languages, the Union Cabinet minister claimed.

Sitharaman said while it is difficult for a person to learn a new language after attaining adulthood, she could pick-up her husband's mother tongue Telugu but could not