GridView does not allow row update or cancel when Html Endcode and Decode is used

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ASP.NET

Hello,

I am using templates in grdview. The columns in the gridview can contains special characters like for example "<". The column data gets truncated when it tries to display the cell value with special character.
I looked up on the internet and I use HTMLEncode in the ItemTemplate and HTMLDecode in EditItemTemplate. Now, the truncation problem no longer exists. but, something really annoying happens. When I click the edit button in the row, the row goes into edit mode, and the characters appears in the decoded i.e. "<" format. Which is the right behavior. But, once this is displayed in edit mode, none of events like rowupdate or rowcancel events fire. Or in other words, clicking on Update or Cancel in the gridview row does nothing.

Can you please help.
P.S. I have also set hte Page directive's ValidateRequest to false.

Thanks