Anti-Hindi agitation
Also called: Anti-Hindi agitations of 1965 · Topic: Federalism and Centre-State Relations · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 2 "Federalism"; Class 11, Ch 7 "Federalism"; Class 12, Ch 5 "Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System"; Class 12, Ch 7 "Regional Aspirations"
Meaning
The anti-Hindi agitation was a wave of protests against making Hindi the only official language of the Union. Article 343 had allowed English for only 15 years, up to 1965. As that date came near, non-Hindi states feared their people would lose out in jobs and government. The protests were strongest in Tamil Nadu in 1965. They pushed the Union to amend the Official Languages Act 1963 in 1967. That amendment keeps English in use until every non-Hindi state legislature and Parliament agree to drop it. In effect, non-Hindi states got a veto.
Example
In Tamil Nadu in 1965, students and others protested against Hindi becoming the sole official language. The result was the 1967 amendment, which made sure English would continue alongside Hindi.
Don't confuse with
- Secession: leaving the country. The anti-Hindi agitation wanted fair treatment of languages inside India, not separation.
Related concepts
- Language policy of India
- Official language of the Union
- Official Language Commission
- Official Languages Act 1963
- Eighth Schedule
- Classical language
- Three-language formula