Date:03/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/03/stories/2006020303100200.htm

Tamil Nadu

A balancing act!

Not many youths know about the students' agitation and the general uprising that shook the State and the nation in the name of anti-Hindi imposition in 1965. Some were killed in police action and some others' lives went up in flames.

The Dravidian parties, who championed the anti-Hindi agitation, usually observe January 25 as ``Veeravanakka Naal'' to remember the language martyrs and their sacrifice. Surprisingly, a matriculation school in Karur where Hindi is also taught, observed the day.

Students of Lord's Park Matriculation School observed one-minute silence in memory of the language martyrs that day. They were told that despite Hindi being taught, it was the duty of every one to respect mother tongue. A delicate balancing act indeed!.

From L. Renganathan in Karur.