Is Bengali the official language of Assam?

In April 1836, Bengali was declared the language of the courts in Assam, replacing Assamese in the Brahmaputra valley. Bengali was also used as the medium of instruction in the educational institutions of Assam. Within decades, the Assamese began to resent the state of affairs.

When was Bengali language replaced by Assamese language in Assam?

The Dark Age of the Assamese language is a 37 year long time-frame, from 1836 to 1873, during which Bengali eclipsed the Assamese language. During British India, the Bengali language was imposed over Assamese as the British took over Assam.

Is Bengali and Assamese same?

The two major alphabets in this script – Assamese and Bengali – are virtually identical, except for two characters, with Assamese differing from Bengali in one letter for the /r/ sound, and an extra letter for the /w/ or /v/ sound.

What is the Bengali Language Movement in Barak Valley of Assam?

The Bengali Language Movement in Barak Valley of Assam was a protest against Assam Govt.’s decision to make Assamese as the only official language of the whole state, even though almost 27\% of the state’s populations are Bengali-speaking. Particularly in Barak Valley, Bengali is largely spoken by the natives and use of Assamese is negligible.

Is Bengali really the official language of Assam?

Section 5 of the Assam Official Language Act 1960 as amended in 1967 had specified Bengali as the official language anyway. This prompted the state government to issue a fresh circular on September 9 saying that the official language (Bengali) of Barak Valley will continue to be used for all official works.

What is the Bengali population in Barak Valley?

About 80\% of the Valley’s residents are Bengalis. In the Barak Valley region, the Bengali population consists of both Hindus and Muslims, who are almost equal in population and constitute the overwhelming majority of the population. There is also a substainable minority of tribals and immigrants from other parts of India.

Why did Bengalis flee Brahmaputra valley?

Tensions ran high in the Brahmaputra Valley, where mob violence broke out.The violence reached its peak between July and September, during which an estimated 50,000 Bengalis fled the Brahmaputra Valley and arrived in West Bengal. Another 90,000 fled to Barak Valley and other regions of the North East.