LIP (Language Interface Pack)
Note: English and Tamil Wikipedia have more upto date information than mentioned in this article. If you would like to have a look at windows XP LIP please have look in English or Tamil.
Ever since the introduction of Windows 2000 Microsoft has put an effort to support the local languages. Windows 2000 introduced the support to Tamil and Hindi. Windows XP extended the support to Telugu and Kannada. LIP (Language Interface pack) is an intermediate solution (and of course a cheap) than releasing the operating system in that language. Tamil, Hindi and Marathi versions of the LIP has been released. All you need is English verison of Windows XP with service Pack 2 (either as an integrated or a separate one, Alhough. Hindi can be installed with Windows XP SP1 but still SP2 is recommended) .
LIP Office 2003
There is already an Open Office Product released by Sun Micro System. Tamil and Hindi version have been released quite a long time back before the Microsoft. To know about Open Office have a look at http://www.openoffice.org. Microsoft is a late comer to the field probably in the Indian Languages. Microsoft has released many Indian langage version of the LIP for the office have a look at bhashaindia.com
External Links
Note that Tamil wikipedia has materials about Windows LIP
English wikipedia the free encyclopdia has an article about Windows LIP