Against Hindi Imposition

Against Hindi Imposition :

The DMK's struggle against Hindi imperialism is unique in history. It is the only political party that protects the non-hindi speaking people. But for the virulent and successive campaign of DMK against Hindi, the non-Hindi speaking people would have been relegated to second-class citizens in India.

From time immemorial Sanskrit the mother of Hindi made futile attempts to dominate and destroy Tamil. The conflict with Tamil Poet Nakkirar in sangam literature and competition of Sanskrit musician Hemanathan -in Puranas, depict the battles won by Tamil.

During the freedom struggle, backed by the Congress party, Hindi imperialism raised its ugly head. In 1938 when compulsory Hindi was introduced in schools in Tamilnadu ( formally called Madras Presidency ) people from all sects – scholars, religious heads and non-political leaders joined the agitation led by Periyar. Frontline leaders like Dr. Anna, K.A.P. Viswanatham, Elathu Adigal, Maraimalai Adigal and more than 1200 volunteers, which included a large number of women, were arrested.

Dr. Kalaignar at the tender age of 14 joined the agitation, with great enthusiasm. It was his marriage day. In fact, the bride and parties had to wait for the groom.

Mr. Natarajan and Mr. Thalamuthu, imprisoned in jail, became the first martyrs to sacrifice their lives at the altar of Hindi imperialism.

Even the Indian Freedom Struggle did not evoke so much of public response.

After Independence, the Congress Party tried to impose Hindi by subtle and back-door methods in the pretext of promoting it as a national language, common language, link language, administrative language, official language, etc., But as a vigilant watch dog of Tamil, DMK opposed and the struggle was relentlessly carried on by Dr. Anna with redoubled vigour.