Historical Hindi Opposition in Tamil Nadu: Roots Tracing Back to the 1930s. Stalin accuses the central government of imposing Hindi. Recent controversies have been fueled by the New Education Policy and parliamentary recommendations.
Hindi Controversy in South India: The debate surrounding Hindi versus regional languages has resurfaced in several South Indian states, including Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has bly opposed what he perceives as the central government's attempt to impose Hindi. Similar protests against Hindi's prominence are also visible in Kerala and Karnataka.
This is not the first instance of such a controversy in South India. Opposition to Hindi in Tamil Nadu has deep roots, predating independence. Significant movements against Hindi took place from the 1930s to 1965, resulting in casualties and numerous arrests.
Hindi Opposition Begins in the 1930s
The foundation of Hindi opposition in Tamil Nadu was laid during the Indian independence movement. In the 1930s, when the Congress government in Madras Presidency proposed including Hindi as a subject in schools, it faced b resistance. Social reformer E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) and the Justice Party spearheaded the opposition.
This movement lasted approximately three years, resulting in the deaths of two protesters and over a thousand arrests. This was the first organized anti-Hindi movement, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadu's politics and society.
1946-1950: The Second Phase of Hindi Opposition
Between 1946 and 1950, a second phase of Hindi opposition emerged. Whenever the government attempted to make Hindi compulsory in schools, protests erupted. Eventually, a compromise was reached, making Hindi an optional subject, thereby somewhat calming the controversy.
Nehru's Assurance and the 1963 Anti-Hindi Movement
Nehru Guarantees the Continuation of English
Amidst rising tensions in 1959, then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru assured Parliament that non-Hindi-speaking states could decide how long English would remain an official language. He affirmed that English would remain an administrative language alongside Hindi.
However, the passing of the Official Languages Act in 1963 sparked b opposition from the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), led by Annadurai. This movement tragically included the self-immolation of a protester, Chinnaswamy, in Trichy.
Opposition in Tamil Nadu stemmed from fears that Hindi proficiency would become a mandatory criterion for central government jobs, potentially disadvantaging Tamil-speaking students in competitive examinations.
Largest Anti-Hindi Protest in Tamil Nadu
When Hindi was proposed as the sole official language in 1965, large-scale protests erupted in Tamil Nadu. DMK leader C.N. Annadurai declared January 25, 1965, as a "day of mourning".
Violent protests ensued, with train compartments and Hindi signs set ablaze. Clashes occurred between protesters and Congress workers in Madurai.
These riots resulted in approximately 70 deaths. Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri subsequently assured the continuation of English in inter-state communication and civil service examinations.
1967: Congress Ousted from Power Due to Anti-Hindi Protests
The anti-Hindi movement caused significant political damage to the Congress in Tamil Nadu. The intense agitations by the DMK and students led to Congress's defeat in the 1967 Assembly elections.
The DMK came to power, with a student leader defeating Congress Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. Since then, Congress has not regained power in Tamil Nadu.
Renewed Opposition Fueled by Parliamentary Committee Recommendations
In 2022, a parliamentary committee recommended prioritizing Hindi as the medium of instruction in technical and non-technical higher education institutions, such as IITs, in Hindi-speaking states.
Furthermore, the committee recommended including Hindi among the official languages of the United Nations. The Tamil Nadu government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin bly opposed this, characterizing it as a "conspiracy to impose Hindi" by the central government.
Controversy Surrounding the New Education Policy
The New Education Policy (NEP) is another major contributor to the anti-Hindi sentiment in Tamil Nadu. The policy advocates for teaching three languages in every school. However, Hindi is not mandated; it is left to the states and students to choose.
Despite this, M.K. Stalin claims that the central government aims to impose Sanskrit or Hindi on Tamil Nadu through this policy. Currently, Tamil and English are the only languages taught in Tamil Nadu schools. A third language, chosen from Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, or Hindi, can be added.
