ProtestMadras State (Congress era)
1965 anti-Hindi agitation
· Madurai
Student-led protests against Hindi becoming the sole official language turned into statewide riots, with police firing and self-immolations.
As 26 January 1965, the date set for Hindi to become the sole official language of the Union, approached, students and the DMK intensified protests in Madras State. A clash in Madurai on 25 January sparked riots that spread across the state and continued for about two months, marked by arson, police firing, lathi charges and several self-immolations. Paramilitary forces were deployed and about 70 people were killed by official estimates, with some unofficial estimates far higher. Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave assurances that English would continue as an associate official language. The agitation reshaped Tamil Nadu politics and contributed to the Congress defeat in 1967.