TN’s Anti-Hindi Narrative: A Timeline

TN’s Anti-Hindi Narrative: A Timeline

The vehement anti-Hindi row in Tamil Nadu is not new. The historically deep-rooted sentiment dates back to early 20th century, and is deeply entrenched in the psyche of the people.

A look at how it all came to pass:

Pre-Independence:

1918: Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru seek to unite linguistic groups against the British with a common language – Hindi. Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) founder Periyar E.V. Ramasamy opposes this.

1937: Madras Chief Minister C. Rajagopalachari makes Hindi compulsory in schools. Periyar denounces it as “imposition of Hindi”.

1946-1950: Sporadic agitations against Hindi by DK and Periyar.

1952: First major anti-Hindi protests break out across Tamil Nadu, seeing Hindi as an assault on its culture.

1960: Official Languages Act proposes Hindi as national language. Rejected by TN as tensions rise.

1968: “Three-language formula” – English, Hindi and state regional language – is first introduced. Opposed by then Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.

1970s-1980s: Ongoing. Tamil Nadu continues to resist Hindi, with DMK leaders like Karunanidhi.

2000s-Present:

2014: BJP pushes for Hindi promotion. CM M.K. Stalin reaffirms TN’s opposition to Hindi imposition.

2020: NEP (National Education Policy) retains three-language formula, but does not impose any language on any state.

Feb 2025: Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks in Parliament about B.R. Ambedkar – a champion of Dalits – sparks a row again.

Activists deface Railway Station Signboard in Pollachi, blackening Hindi name of station.

Much water has flown under the bridge on this issue for over a century.