India, March 4 -- Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom, say the wise. It is also a doorway to job opportunities in the changed world where job-seekers go places all over the world.

However, the language always played a disruptive role in many countries. In our country, it was first ignited in 1937 when Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) became the first Chief Minister of Madras Presidency under Indian National Congress (INC) party. He introduced Hindi as a compulsory subject of teaching in schools. This led to the first agitation against Hindi imposition by Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) leader Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (Periyar).

Anticipating an independent India, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to propagate Hindi in no...