The anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu began in 1937 and peaked in 1965, when students rose against fears that Hindi would replace English in Union administrat…
A Hindi line on a Thoothukudi highway board was replaced and two highways officials suspended; Stalin called it Hindi imposition.
The court refused to recall its order on land for Navodaya schools, gave three months and asked both governments to talk; the state held to two languages.
It urged the Union not to implement a parliamentary language committee's recommendations on Hindi in education and jobs.
The DMK burned Part XVII over the Navodaya scheme; about 20,000 were arrested by one account, and the schools were not opened.
Under Annadurai the Assembly chose Tamil and English only and scrapped the three-language formula.
The DMK beat Congress, and student leader P. Seenivasan defeated K. Kamaraj in Virudhunagar.
Riots spread from Madurai after the transition period ended; about 70 deaths is the commonly cited official estimate.
The Act said English 'may' continue; the DMK feared 'may' could become 'may not'.
Rajaji's government announced Hindi teaching; compulsory Hindi in 125 schools followed in 1938 and was made optional in 1940.
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