'A missile in the anti-Hindi war. '-M.

K. StalinThe massive and uncompromising opposition to the repeated attempts toimpose one language-Hindi-on the country has a long tradition in TamilNadu.

Recent, aggressive attempts by the Hindutva regime to force Hindiupon all the people of the Indian Union have brought the Tamil resistanceinto particular focus. But this resistance has a long history.

This book bythe prominent Tamil politician and leader of the anti-Hindi agitation-firstwritten in 1966, revised in 1993, and updated posthumously in 2023-24-traces the history of the movement; its origins and its impact on Tamil politicsand India's federal structure. The high point of this movement was in the 1960s, when 'an army of studentsrose in revolt' against the North-centric Central government.

But, as this bookshows, its beginnings go back to the 1930s, when Rajaji assumed office as thechief minister of Madras Presidency and introduced Hindi as a compulsorysubject in schools. The Dravida Kazhagam launched an agitation against thisin 1938 under the leadership of E.

V. R.

Periyar. The opposition and strugglecontinues to this day and is central to Tamil politics.

This passionate book is a record of the long struggle against what the anti-Hindi activists see as an attempt to erode democracy and diversity. It is anessential read for everyone interested in the political history of the IndianUnion.

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