Official Languages Act, 1963

Background and evolution

The Constituent Assembly debated the national language question at length. The compromise, often called the Munshi–Ayyangar formula, made Hindi in the Devanagari script the official language of the Union under Article 343, with international numerals, while English was to continue for official purposes for fifteen years, that is, until 1965. Article 343(3) allowed Parliament to provide by law for English to continue beyond that date.

As 1965 approached, there was strong anxiety in non-Hindi-speaking states, especially in the south, that people who did not know Hindi would be disadvantaged in central jobs and public life. Jawaharlal Nehru assured Parliament in 1959 and 1963 that English would remain an associate language as long as non-Hindi-speaking people wanted it. The Official Languages Act of 1963 was passed to give legal effect to this continuation, though its wording said English "may" continue, which critics felt was too weak.

When the deadline arrived in January 1965, violent protests broke out in Madras State, with deaths, self-immolations and police firing. Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri repeated Nehru's assurances. In 1967, under Indira Gandhi, Parliament amended the Act so that English would continue to be used until resolutions to end its use were passed by the legislatures of all states that had not adopted Hindi, followed by a resolution of both Houses of Parliament. This effectively gave each non-Hindi state a veto.