🗣️ The 1965 Anti-Hindi Agitation: How Tamil Nadu Won a Guarantee for English

The Constitution does not name any “national language”. Article 343 made Hindi in the Devanagari script the official language of the Union, but allowed English to continue for official purposes for 15 years — until 26 January 1965.

For many in Madras State, ending English meant more than a change of language. Union jobs, competitive examinations and communication with Delhi would favour people who grew up speaking Hindi. Tamil — one of the world’s oldest living classical languages — would also be pushed down in public life.

In 1937 the Madras Presidency government under C. Rajagopalachari made Hindi compulsory in some schools. The Self-Respect Movement and the Justice Party led protests; more than 1,100 people were arrested, including Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and C.N. Annadurai. Two detainees, Natarajan and Thalamuthu, died in prison.

The order was withdrawn in February 1940. The memory of those protests shaped the movement a generation later.

The Official Languages Act, 1963 said English “may” continue alongside Hindi after 1965. Opponents felt “may” was not a guarantee — English could be dropped at any time. As the 1965 deadline approached, anxiety grew among students and political parties in Madras State.

Annadurai and the DMK called for 26 January 1965 to be observed as a day of mourning; the protest was moved to 25 January. Around 3,000 DMK members were taken into preventive custody. On 25 January a clash in Madurai set off unrest that spread across the state.

Students were at the heart of the movement — marching, holding meetings and forming agitation councils. Over the next two weeks there were demonstrations, police firing, arson and clashes. The state government, led by Chief Minister M. Bhaktavatsalam, called in paramilitary forces.

Two Union ministers from Madras State, C. Subramaniam and O.V. Alagesan, submitted their resignations in protest. On the advice of President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri did not let matters escalate.

On 11 February 1965, Shastri announced in a radio broadcast that Jawaharlal Nehru’s assurances would be honoured: English would continue for communication between the Centre and the states, and the all-India civil services examinations would continue in English.

In the 1967 Assembly election — fought amid food shortages and price rises as well as the language question — the DMK under C.N. Annadurai won and formed the government. The Congress has not governed Tamil Nadu since.

In December 1967 Parliament amended the Official Languages Act (assent on 8 January 1968). English now continues alongside Hindi for Union purposes, and it can be dropped only after every state that has not adopted Hindi passes a resolution for it and Parliament agrees — in effect, a lasting guarantee.

In January 1968 the Annadurai government adopted the two-language policy — Tamil and English — in state schools, instead of the three-language formula. It remains Tamil Nadu’s policy today.

The state was also renamed: Madras State became Tamil Nadu with effect from 14 January 1969.

• Article 343 — Hindi in Devanagari is the official language of the Union; English continues under the Official Languages Act.
• Article 345 — each state chooses its own official language(s). Tamil is Tamil Nadu’s official language.
• Article 350A — states should provide primary education in the mother tongue for children of linguistic minorities.
• The Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages, including Tamil. In 2004 Tamil became the first language declared “classical” by the Government of India.

Learn more in Constitution & Rights.

• Diversity needs fairness. In a multilingual country, no citizen should be disadvantaged because of the language they grew up with.
• Clear guarantees build trust. A vague “may” fuelled fear; a firm law in 1967 settled it.
• Students and citizens can shape national policy — but violence brought great loss. Peaceful protest and dialogue are the lasting path.
• Federalism works through negotiation between the Centre and the states.