The Anti-Hindi Martyrs day is being celebrated today as a mark of respect to the Language martyrs who stood up for the cause of Tamil and opposed the imposition of Hindi by the Rajaji led government in the pre-independence era and later in 1965 when anti-Hindi agitation erupted again.
Coimbatore, January 25
The Anti-Hindi Martyrs day is being celebrated today as a mark of respect to the Language martyrs who stood up for the cause of Tamil and opposed the imposition of Hindi by the Rajaji led government in the pre-independence era and later in 1965 when anti-Hindi agitation erupted again
Firebrand protesters Thalamuthu and Natarajan who died due to police atrocities when they were arrested and imprisoned under draconian laws during the language agitation.
EV Ramasamy Periyar led the movement in which over 1,198 anti- Hindi agitators including women and children were arrested.
Though "Therar" Sathyamurthy, a freedom fighter and senior Congress leader (also the mentor of K.Kamaraj) opposed Hindi imposition, Rajaji carried on with the evil agenda until Congress Government resigned in 1939 and imposition was withdrawn.
Periyar, the champion of the anti-Hindi movement was imprisoned for one year but was later released in six months due to his ill health. Stalwarts like Thiru VI Kalayasundaranar, Ma Po Sivagnanam also led the movement from the forefront.
The Hindi imposition reared in the ugly head again in 1965, when Lal Bahadur Sastri as Prime Minister tried to impose Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.
Spontaneous agitations erupted in which over 70 people died immolating themselves in protest against the imposition of Hindi in Tamilnadu.
Following stiff resistance from the agitations and the resignation of OV Alagesan and Subramanian from Congress cabinet in Tamilnadu, the Centre relented.
The resistance to starting Navodaya schools in Tamilnadu in 1986 and the consequent ridicule and caricatures of anti-Hindi agitators in NCERT books were also part of the Tamilnadu's long history of opposing Hindi in any form.
The Language Martyrs day commemorates the sacrifices of agitators who had sacrificed their lives and paved the way for the continuation of two language formula in Tamilnadu.
The Anti-Hindi Martyrs day is being celebrated today as a mark of respect to the Language martyrs who stood up for the cause of Tamil and opposed the imposition of Hindi by the Rajaji led government in the pre-independence era and later in 1965 when anti-Hindi agitation erupted again
Firebrand protesters Thalamuthu and Natarajan who died due to police atrocities when they were arrested and imprisoned under draconian laws during the language agitation.
EV Ramasamy Periyar led the movement in which over 1,198 anti- Hindi agitators including women and children were arrested.
Though "Therar" Sathyamurthy, a freedom fighter and senior Congress leader (also the mentor of K.Kamaraj) opposed Hindi imposition, Rajaji carried on with the evil agenda until Congress Government resigned in 1939 and imposition was withdrawn.
Periyar, the champion of the anti-Hindi movement was imprisoned for one year but was later released in six months due to his ill health. Stalwarts like Thiru VI Kalayasundaranar, Ma Po Sivagnanam also led the movement from the forefront.
The Hindi imposition reared in the ugly head again in 1965, when Lal Bahadur Sastri as Prime Minister tried to impose Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.
Spontaneous agitations erupted in which over 70 people died immolating themselves in protest against the imposition of Hindi in Tamilnadu.
Following stiff resistance from the agitations and the resignation of OV Alagesan and Subramanian from Congress cabinet in Tamilnadu, the Centre relented.
The resistance to starting Navodaya schools in Tamilnadu in 1986 and the consequent ridicule and caricatures of anti-Hindi agitators in NCERT books were also part of the Tamilnadu's long history of opposing Hindi in any form.
The Language Martyrs day commemorates the sacrifices of agitators who had sacrificed their lives and paved the way for the continuation of two language formula in Tamilnadu.