Decode Politics: As Mamata Banerjee begins a new ‘Bhasha Andolan' from today, a look at key language stirs in the past
In Bengal, movements centred on language are not new. Historically, both halves of the erstwhile undivided Bengal have seen multiple language agitations. Now, beginning July 27, Mamata will lead the newest iteration of a Bhasha Andolan in the state.
Addressing the TMC's 'Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day)' rally on July 21 in Kolkata, Mamata accused the BJP of allegedly unleashing 'linguistic terrorism' against Bengalis and called for a movement against the 'harassment' of Bengali-speaking people in different states.
Every year the TMC observes 'Shaheed Diwas' to mark police firing on workers of Bengal Youth Congress, then led by Mamata, in Kolkata on July 21, 1993, in which 13 people were killed. The state was then ruled by the CPI(M)-led Left Front.
'Bangla bhashar upor sontras cholchhe (terror is being unleashed on the Bengali language),' she said. 'Over 1,000 people detained, sent to jails in BJP-ruled states, including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This is a conspiracy against the Bengali language. Whoever speaks Bengali is being detained in BJP-ruled states.'
The CM said, 'We have over 22 lakh migrants outside Bengal. But there are 1.5 crore migrants working in Bengal. We love Hindi language, we love Gujarati language. But why do you (the BJP) conspire against Bengali language?'
Announcing the Bhasha Andolan, Mamata said, 'From July 27, we will hit the streets in protest. Every Saturday and Sunday we will protest in Bengal. I urge our MPs to protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Delhi. Intellectuals and sports personalities would also participate in the protest.'
'Remember, Bengal took part in the freedom struggle… If people are put in jail for speaking the Bengali language, then we will protest. I am not someone who leaves the fight midway. Remember Nandigram fight, remember Singur… The BJP has to be removed from power at the Centre,' said Mamata, referring to the controversial land acquisition projects in Nandigram and Singur under the previous Left government in Bengal.
After the Partition of India in August 1947, the newly-formed state of Pakistan was divided into two parts on either side of India – East and West Pakistan. The Bhasha Andolan has its roots in Bangladesh, when it was still known as East Pakistan.
Soon afterwards, students and activists began a language movement in East Pakistan, seeking the recognition of Bengali as an official language.
The Pakistani government declared Urdu as the sole national language, sparking widespread protests among the Bengali-speaking majority in East Pakistan in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The 'imposition' of Urdu was perceived as an attempt to undermine Bengali culture and identity, and politically marginalise those in East Pakistan.
The movement peaked on February 21, 1952, when a peaceful demonstration was met with violent police action, resulting in numerous deaths. After years of unrest, the Pakistani government declared Bengali as an official language in 1956.
The significance of the language movement extended beyond its immediate outcome. It is seen as a key moment in the assertion of Bengali cultural and national identity, which played a significant role in the subsequent movement for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971.
In Bangladesh, February 21 is now commemorated as 'Martyrs' Day' to honour those who were killed during the language movement. In 1999, the UNESCO recognised February 21 as the International Mother Language Day.
After Independence, the Bengali-speaking Manbhum district remained part of Bihar whose government declared Hindi as its official language. This sparked an agitation in Manbhum to demand equal status for Bangla or Bengali language.
In May 1948, a proposal floated in the Congress party's Manbhum unit to declare Bengali as the official language in the district was defeated by 43-55 votes. Unhappy with the outcome, the district Congress president and secretary, along with 35 other party members, resigned from the party.
In June 1948, the Lok Sevak Sangha was founded in Manbhum to fight for Bangla rights and against the imposition of Hindi.
This Bhasha Andolan was the first of its kind in India. The then Bihar government had restricted the use of Bengali in education in Manbhum, and went on to ban rallies demanding the recognition of Bangla, which set off fierce protests across the district in the early 1950s.
In 1953, the Centre formed a States Reorganisation Commission. After holding hearings in Manbhum, the Commission, in its report submitted in October 1955, proposed the formation of a new Bengali majority district that would fall within West Bengal.
So, in November 1956, the Purulia district – spanning 5,200 sq km and with a population of 11.7 lakh – was carved out of Manbhum and inducted in West Bengal.
Noted actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty launched a sharp attack at Mamata over her call for a language agitation. 'She wants to create controversy in everything… Nothing is going to happen… Bangla language will remain as it is. Mamata Banerjee has got no monopoly over it… We will put up a strong fight,' he said.
Chakraborty alleged that the TMC was attempting to 'manufacture issues' ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. 'Bengali-speaking people have not faced any kind of unnecessary harassment anywhere in the country. Actually, the TMC is running short of issues before the elections. So the CM is trying to create a false narrative and trying to instigate common people, which she has always done,' he added.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya claimed that Mamata was more interested in 'protecting Bengali-speaking infiltrators from Bangladesh'. 'Bengali-speaking Indian Muslims in the border areas of West Bengal are losing jobs to Bangladeshi Muslims, who have entered the country illegally. The true Bengali-speaking people are leaving West Bengal in search of jobs, and at times, they are being mistaken for Bangladeshi Muslims. Who is responsible for this? Illegal Rohingyas have been given a place to live in West Bengal. Fake job cards and voter cards are being issued to them. The Election Commission is taking action and deleting such fake voters. But Mamata Banerjee is supporting them for her vote bank politics,' Bhattacharya alleged.
Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty also took a jibe at the CM over her proposed stir. 'By calling her fight against the harassment of Bengali-speaking people as 'Bhasha Andolan', Mamata Banerjee has reduced the importance of the actual Bhasha Andolan. Not every fight can be branded as a language movement,' he said.
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