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1952 Language Movement: The Turning Point in Bangladesh's Cultural Identity

  • Author: Admin
  • February 21, 2024

1952 Language Movement: The Turning Point in Bangladesh's Cultural Identity

Table of Contents

The roots of the movement, the dawn of the movement, 21st february 1952: the turning point, the aftermath and legacy, conclusion: a movement that shaped a nation.

The Language Movement of 1952 in Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, stands as a significant event in the nation's history, symbolizing the struggle for cultural identity and linguistic rights. This movement not only highlighted the importance of the Bengali language but also laid the foundation for the nation's eventual independence.

Pre-Partition Background

Before delving into the events of 1952, it's crucial to understand the historical context. Prior to the partition of India in 1947, the region of Bengal was a diverse melting pot of cultures and languages. The partition led to the creation of East and West Pakistan, separating the Bengali-speaking population in the East from the Urdu and Punjabi-speaking majority in the West.

The Language Controversy

Post-partition, the government of Pakistan attempted to impose Urdu as the sole national language. This move was met with strong opposition in East Pakistan, where Bengali was spoken by the majority. The refusal to acknowledge Bengali as a state language was seen as a direct attack on the cultural identity of the Bengali-speaking population.

The Protest Begins

The resistance began to take shape in 1948, with students from the University of Dhaka and other political activists leading the charge. The demand was simple yet powerful – recognition of Bengali as one of the state languages.

Key Events Leading to 1952

The movement gained momentum over the next few years, culminating in a series of events in early 1952. The government's persistent refusal to recognize Bengali and the imposition of Urdu incited widespread unrest.

The Fateful Day

February 21, 1952, marked a turning point in the movement. The government, in a bid to suppress the growing unrest, imposed Section 144, banning all public gatherings. Defying this ban, students and activists took to the streets in a peaceful protest.

The Tragic Outcome

The peaceful protest took a tragic turn when police opened fire on the demonstrators, resulting in numerous casualties. This brutal action sparked nationwide outrage, further strengthening the movement.

Recognition of Bengali

The sacrifices of the martyrs did not go in vain. The government, facing mounting pressure, eventually relented, granting Bengali the status of a state language alongside Urdu in 1956.

A Catalyst for Independence

The Language Movement of 1952 did more than just advocate for linguistic rights; it ignited a sense of national identity among the Bengali-speaking population. This sense of identity and unity played a crucial role in the eventual struggle for independence, leading to the birth of Bangladesh in 1971.

International Recognition

The legacy of the Language Movement extends beyond Bangladesh. In recognition of the struggle and sacrifice, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day in 1999, celebrating linguistic diversity and multilingualism worldwide.

The Language Movement of 1952 stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of cultural identity. It not only shaped the course of Bangladesh's history but also left an indelible mark on the global stage, highlighting the significance of linguistic rights and cultural preservation.

Embracing Diversity on February 21: Celebrating International Mother Language Day

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Countercurrents

The Great Language Movement of Bangladesh: Some Reflections

Language Movement Bangladesh

The “Language Movement” of erstwhile East Bengal/East Pakistan and Bangladesh today was more than a language movement, it was a cultural-political movement for Bangladesh. No wonder, even after the Pakistan Constitution of 1956 had guaranteed Bengali as one of the two state languages along with Urdu, East Bengalis continued to mourn the deaths of half-a-dozen martyrs, who got killed by Bengali policemen at the order of a Bengali magistrate under a Bengali Chief Minister (Nurul Amin) of East Bengal on 21stFebruary 1952. In 1956, the province became East Pakistan after the merger of all the four provinces in the western wing of the country as “West Pakistan”.

The Language Movement is a very important historical event, not only for East Bengal but also for the whole world to learn as to how cultural movements can steer a political one, with a long-term programme with patience, courage, integrity, and determination of the people concerned. The Language Movement, in short, is a glorious example of people’s determination. The leaders of the movement, who besides the politicians were teachers, writers, poets, journalists, and last but not least, students, who organized millions of youths for 20 years (1952-1971) in the most unique way by walking bare-footed early in the morning every 21stFebruary on streets towards the Shaheed Minar(Martyrs Memorials) in Dhaka (and to the thousands of replicas across the country) and to the Azimpur graveyard in Dhaka where the martyrs lie buried.

It was simply a wonderful way of arousing patriotism and the sense of belonging to the Bengali Nation (which most East Bengalis never thought of as a requirement until the late 1960s, and finally in 1971) by organizing a political movement in the form of a cultural one, apparently to mourn the unjust killing of students and celebrate 21stFebruary as a day of remembrance.

However, there is a flipside of the movement. Had West Pakistanis and their local agents in East Bengal been respectful to Bengalis, their culture and their entity as fellow Pakistanis, there would not have been any Shaheed Day celebration as Bengalis celebrate it since 1953. Observing or celebrating the victory for the Bengali language in 1956, and eventually, independence in 1971, began as a protest against West Pakistani hegemony, and step-brotherly treatment of Bengalis. What Sukarno could achieve in Indonesia, Jinnah failed to do so in Pakistan, miserably. The tone of his two speeches made in Dhaka as the Governor-General of Pakistan in March 1948 struck the “first nail” into the coffin of united Pakistan through protests, and eventually defiance of the authorities in February 1952.

Sukarno’s quiet diplomacy, patriotism, and pragmatism won the day. He picked up a minority but widely used language as the national/state language of Indonesia. In hindsight, it seems to be the right decision. Himself being a Javanese – who were almost 70% of the population – Sukarno and his colleagues introduced minority Sumatrans’ mother tongue Malay (spoken in Malaya and Singapore as well) known as “Bazaar Malay” as the state language of Indonesia, which Sukarno and his countrymen called Bahasa Indonesia or the Language of Indonesia. They did not want to impose the majority language on the non-Javanese minority for the sake of national unity in a country which is far more diverse than Pakistan. The Javanese people adopted Malay (Bahasa Indonesia) without any resistance. Then again, the situation and demography in the two countries have been very different. Nevertheless, Sukarno’s persuasion to the whole nation in a respectful tone and manner was very different from Jinnah’s arrogance and dictatorial tone, that “Urdu and Urdu alone shall be the state language of Pakistan”. In fact, Pakistan started losing its case to remain united as one nation on 21stFebruary 1952.

The Language Movement is a historical landmark across the world. Its significance lies in the unique way the movement got its own momentum and new sets of leaders, year after year, throughout what emerged as Bangladesh in 1971. No wonder, Kofi Anan — as the Secretary-General of the United Nations — whole-heartedly supported the proposal made by two Bangladeshi-Canadians, the late Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam of Vancouver, to declare 21stFebruary as the International Mother-Language Day. What an innocuous movement, apparently to make Bengali as one of the state languages of Pakistan, achieved at home and got international recognition as a symbol of love and respect for every language and culture in the world is something very unique in world history.

There cannot be any doubt that but for the thousands of Shaheed Minarsraised at thousands of educational institutions in every town and settlements across the country East Bengalis never ever forget about their distinct national identity, which never died off while they were patriotic Pakistanis. Interestingly, most Bengalis from East Bengal/East Pakistan were willing to die for Pakistan, and many in fact gallantly defended Pakistan and died doing so during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965.

Bangladeshis, in general, are unaware that the movement for Bengali as a state language was a positive movement for due recognition of East Bengalis as equal citizens in the state of Pakistan because they knew they had played the most significant, if not the decisive, role in the creation of Pakistan. Thanks to the sheer neglect of history in Bangladesh today – it is not a compulsory subject beyond grade eight at the high school, let alone at college/university level for arts, science, business, medicine, and engineering students, unlike the developed world – many young and educated Bangladeshis do not know what actually happened on 21stFebruary of 1952. Unfortunately, many of them confuse the day with 25thMarch of 1971, the day Pakistani military started their genocidal war against Bangladesh.

As the Language Movement was a positive movement for due recognition of Bengalis as equal citizens of Pakistan, so was it not against any language, let alone Urdu and English. Sadly, thanks to the collective ignorance of Bangladeshis and their opportunist and dishonest leaders, the Language Movement has virtually become a symbol of discarding English as an essential second language of instruction in Bangladesh. The ill-informed leaders and academics believe or at least pretend so, that the Bangladeshi students do not need to learn English or any other language to become good citizens, knowledgeable, and professionally useful people. Many of them cite examples of Japan, China, and Korea, where students do all their study – from elementary schools to universities – in their mother tongue. So, the hypocritical and lame argument goes, there is no need for learning any other language, including English, for the Bangladeshi students. First of all, those who favour the abolition of English as an essential subject for education in Bangladesh – mainly people from the upper echelons – never ever send their children to Bengali-medium schools and universities. They send their children to expensive English-medium institutions at home and abroad. This is definitely hypocritical and conspiratorial to serve the vested interests of the rich and powerful because they know English-educated students are much better equipped than their Bengali-medium counterparts to get better opportunities in life.

What Bangladeshi “experts” and others who advocate pure Bengali-medium (nothing but Bengali) institutions of learning, in some cases, are not aware that other than Bengali language and literature, there are hardly any standard books and reading material in Bengali for any subject at college/university-level education. It might sound like a conspiracy theory, Bangladeshi ruling elites and their associates purposely promote three distinct mediums/systems of instruction – English, Bengali, and Madrasa – to produce three distinct classes of graduates: a) employable; b) under-employable; and c) unemployable. This is definitely what the leaders and martyrs of the Language Movement never thought of that one day their progeny would discard English or any other language in the name of protecting and promoting Bengali as a symbol of national pride and unity. It is time to educate the hyper-patriotic elements in society that no Afro-Asian language, other than Japanese, Mandarin, and Korean, is good enough for higher education in any discipline. As of today, one who wants to get higher education in any discipline will have to learn at least one European or one of the above three Asian languages. Even Turkish, Farsi, Arabic, Thai, Indonesian/Malay, Hindi, and Urdu are poor substitutes in this regard. Unfortunately, for ardent Bengali lovers, there is no way out of the situation, yet!

Last but not least, as Malaysian statesman Mahathir Mohamed once said (to paraphrase): “English language is no longer a symbol of British imperialism. Today, it is an essential tool of learning, as essential as the computer”. By the way, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, who once introduced Malay, Sinhalese, and Tamil as the only mediums of instruction at college/university level, eventually reverted to English, out of sheer pragmatic reasons. Bangladesh must learn from the Malaysian and Sri Lankan examples, if it wants Bangladeshi graduates to become competitive at home and globally in the realms of knowledge and employment opportunities.

Dr. Hashmi is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, US. He is an analyst, historian, cultural anthropologist, and author of several books.

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Banglapedia

Language Movement

Language Movement began in 1948 and reached its climax in the killing of 21 February 1952, and ended in the adoption of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan. The question as to what would be the state language of Pakistan was raised immediately after its creation. The central leaders and the Urdu-speaking intellectuals of Pakistan declared that urdu would be the state language of Pakistan, just as Hindi was the state language of India. The students and intellectuals of East Pakistan, however, demanded that Bangla be made one of the state languages. After a lot of controversy over the language issue, the final demand from East Pakistan was that Bangla must be the official language and the medium of instruction in East Pakistan and for the central government it would be one of the state languages along with Urdu. The first movement on this issue was mobilised by Tamaddun Majlish headed by Professor Abul Kashem. Gradually many other non-communal and progressive organisations joined the movement, which finally turned into a mass movement.

Meanwhile, serious preparation was being taken in various forums of the central government of Pakistan under the initiative of Fazlur Rahman, the central education minister, to make Urdu the only state language of Pakistan. On receipt of this information, East Pakistani students became agitated and held a meeting on the Dhaka University campus on 6 December 1947, demanding that Bangla be made one of the state languages of Pakistan. The meeting was followed by student processions and more agitation. The first Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad (Language Action Committee) was formed towards the end of December with Professor Nurul Huq Bhuiyan of Tamaddun Majlish as the convener.

language movement 1952 essay

The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was in session at Karachi-then the capital of Pakistan-from 23 February 1948. It was proposed that the members would have to speak either in Urdu or in English at the Assembly. dhirendranath datta , a member from the East Pakistan Congress Party, moved an amendment motion to include Bangla as one of the languages of the Constituent Assembly. He noted that out of the 6 crore 90 lakh population of Pakistan, 4 crore 40 lakh were from East Pakistan with Bangla as their mother tongue. The central leaders, including liaquat ali khan , prime minister of Pakistan, and khwaja nazimuddin , chief minister of East Bengal, opposed the motion. On receiving the news that the motion had been rejected, students, intellectuals and politicians of East Pakistan became agitated. Newspapers such as the Azad also criticised of the politicians who had rejected the motion.

A new committee to fight for Bangla as the state language was formed with Shamsul Huq as convener. On 11 March 1948 a general strike was observed in the towns of East Pakistan in protest against the omission of Bangla from the languages of the Constituent Assembly, the absence of Bangla letters in Pakistani coins and stamps, and the use of only Urdu in recruitment tests for the navy. The movement also reiterated the earlier demand that Bangla be declared one of the state languages of Pakistan and the official language of East Pakistan. Amidst processions, picketing and slogans, leaders such as Shawkat Ali, Kazi Golam Mahboob, Shamsul Huq, Oli Ahad, sheikh mujibur rahman , Abdul Wahed and others were arrested. Student leaders, including Abdul Matin and a bdul malek ukil , also took part in the procession and picketing.

A meeting was held on the Dhaka University premises. Mohammad Toaha was severely injured while trying to snatch away a rifle from a policeman and had to be admitted to hospital. Strikes were observed from 12 March to 15 March.

Under such circumstances the government had to give in. Khwaja Nazimuddin signed an agreement with the student leaders. However, although he agreed to a few terms and conditions, he did not comply with their demand that Bangla be made a state language. muhammed ali jinnah , the governor general of Pakistan, came to visit East Pakistan on 19 March. He addressed two meetings in Dhaka, in both of which he ignored the popular demand for Bangla. He reiterated that Urdu would be the only state language of Pakistan. This declaration was instantly protested with the Language Movement spreading throughout East Pakistan. The Dhaka University Language Action Committee was formed on 11 March 1950 with Abdul Matin as its convener.

By the beginning of 1952, the Language Movement took a serious turn. Both Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan were dead-Jinnah on 11 September 1948 and Liaquat Ali Khan on 16 October 1951. Khwaja Nazimuddin had succeeded Liaquat Ali Khan as prime minister of Pakistan. With the political crisis, the economic condition in East Pakistan also deteriorated. The people of East Pakistan started losing faith in the Muslim League. A new party, the Awami Muslim League-which would later become the awami league -was formed under the leadership of maulana abdul hamid khan bhasani in 1949. There was a growing sense of deprivation and exploitation in East Pakistan and a realisation that a new form of colonialism had replaced British imperialism. Under these circumstances, the Language Movement got a new momentum in 1952.

On 27 January 1952, Khwaja Nazimuddin came to Dhaka from Karachi. Addressing a meeting at Paltan Maidan, he said that the people of the province could decide what would be the provincial language, but only Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan. There was an instantaneous, negative reaction to this speech among the students who responded with the slogan, 'Rashtrabhasha Bangla Chai' (We want Bangla as the state language).

A strike was observed at Dhaka University on 30 January. The representatives of various political and cultural organisations held a meeting on 31 January chaired by Moulana Bhasani. An All-Party Central Language Action Committee was formed with Kazi Golam Mahboob as its convener. At this time the government also proposed that Bangla be written in Arabic script. This proposal was also vehemently opposed. The Language Action Committee decided to call a hartal and organise demonstrations and processions on February 21 throughout East Pakistan.

As preparations for demonstrations were underway, the government imposed Section 144 in the city of Dhaka, banning all assemblies and demonstrations. A meeting of the Central Language Action Committee was held on 20 February under the chairmanship of abul hashim . Opinion was divided as to whether or not to violate Section 144.

language movement 1952 essay

The students were determined to violate Section144 and held a student meeting at 11.00 am on 21 February on the Dhaka University campus, then located close to the Medical College Hospital. When the meeting started, the Vice-Chancellor, along with a few university teachers, came to the spot and requested the students not to violate the ban on assembly. However, the students, under their leaders - Abdul Matin and gaziul haque - were adamant. Thousands of students from different schools and colleges of Dhaka assembled on the university campus while armed police waited outside the gate. When the students emerged in groups, shouting slogans, the police resorted to baton charge; even the female students were not spared.

The students then started throwing brickbats at the police, who retaliated with tear gas. Unable to control the agitated students, the police fired upon the crowd of students, who were proceeding towards the Assembly Hall (at present, part of Jagannath Hall, University of Dhaka). Three young men, rafiq uddin ahmed , abdul jabbar and abul barkat (an MA student of Political Science) were fatally wounded. Many injured persons were admitted to the hospital. Among them abdus salam , a peon at the Secretariat, subsequently succumbed to his wounds. A nine-year-old boy named Ohiullah was also killed.

At the Legislative Assembly building, the session was about to begin. Hearing the news of the shooting, some members of the Assembly, including maulana abdur rashid tarkabagish and some opposition members, went out and joined the students. In the Assembly, nurul amin , chief minister of East Pakistan, continued to oppose the demand for Bangla.

The next day, 22 February, was also a day of public demonstrations and police reprisals. The public performed a janaza (prayer service for the dead) and brought out a mourning procession, which was attacked by the police and the army resulting in several deaths, including that of a young man named Shafiur Rahman. Many were injured and arrested. On 23 February, at the spot where students had been killed, a memorial was erected. In 1963, the temporary structure was replaced by a concrete memorial, the shaheed minar (martyrs' memorial).

The East Bengal Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution recommending the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan. The language movement continued until 1956. The movement achieved its goal by forcing the Pakistan Constituent Assembly in adopting both Bangla and Urdu as the state languages of Pakistan. While the Assembly was debating on the language issue, Member Adel Uddin Ahmed (1913-1981; Faridpur) made an important amendment proposal, which was adopted unanimously by the Assembly (16 February 1956). Both Bangla and Urdu were thus enacted to be the state languages of Pakistan.

Since 1952, 21 February has been observed every year to commemorate the martyrs of the Language Movement. With UNESCO adopting a resolution on 17 November 1999 proclaiming 21 February as international mother language day . It is an honour bestowed by the international community on the Language Movement of Bangladesh. [Bashir Al Helal]

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Published:   12:35 AM, 20 February 2019

Language Movement of 1952: Birth of Bangladesh

S.M.Masud Rana (Robi)

Language Movement of 1952: Birth of Bangladesh

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Language movement and emergence of Bangladesh

The basic tone and spirit of nation-building is reflected in the practice of language.

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Language Movement began in 1948 and reached its climax in the killing of 21 February 1952 leading to establishment of Bangladesh in 1971.

Ekushey February or Language Movement Day or Mother Language Movement Day is a glorious day for all the Bengali language people of the world including Bangladesh. We can speak Bengali language only for the martyrs, in exchange for their blood, we can speak in Bengali.

The basic tone and spirit of nation-building is reflected in the practice of language. How a land based on religion gradually turned into a secular country is the historical witness of the language movement of 1952.

Eight language martyrs were killed on February 21, 1952 who were identified as Rafiquddin Ahmad, Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabbar, Abdus Salam, Shafiqur Rahman, Abdul Awal, Ahualullah and an unidentified boy.

The language movement led to the realisation that the Bengalis constituted a separate nation. Their destiny lay not with Pakistan but elsewhere as an independent country.

21 February is the International Mother Language Day and in Bangladesh, the day is observed as National Martyr’s Day since 1952. The day is marked with the martyrdom of valiant sons of Bangladesh for establishing Bangla as the state language of the then East Pakistan (present Bangladesh).

It can be said that the significance of the language movement is not limited to the right to speak the mother tongue. It extends to the right to speak in all the languages of the world, as well as to express one’s thoughts. Its significance is more extensive in the context of Bangladesh. A historical re-reading of the Bengali language movement (1948-1971) is necessary to understand how language organizes a nation and in turn can be the basis of a country’s independence.

Language is not only speech, nor is speaking only an expression of language. Language expresses the thoughts and consciousness of the human mind. It can be said that the seeds of ethnicity and nationality lie in language. Language is the mirror of society. Therefore, apart from language, social issues (such as ethnicity, nationalism, freedom, non-communalism) are rooted in the language. The proof of this is the language movement of 1952.

Language movement is not only about 21 February 1952. The events before and after 1952 must be understood in interrelated historical realities. The first example of the division of the country based on religion is the betrayal of the Bengali language by the ruling group of West Pakistan. The language movement of 1952 is a prime example of the Bengali nation being inherently non-communal.

The language movement started immediately after partition 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. Specifically, from the beginning of 1948, which culminated in 1952. Then in 1956 to move for related other demands and as a result, the independence movement of 1966 and the achievement of independence in 1971. That is, the impact of the language movement extended to the sentiments, perceptions, politics and independence of the Bengali public.

Language movement in the immediate aftermath of partition Pakistanis’ views were felt in the adverse reality of the language movement in the immediate aftermath of partition. From there, the idea of a separate state was awakened in the then Bengali society. Bangladesh’s independence was born from there. That is, the language movement was the beginning of the independence of Bangladesh.

In the post-partition situation, the Bengali students realized that the chain of slavery could not be broken if the mother tongue and Bengali language could not be made the state language in the reality of Pakistan’s insular attitude towards East Bengal.

All possibilities for liberation lie in the right to language. Therefore, the Bengali students were active in the language struggle for the ultimate liberation of the nation. The language movement started immediately after partition. Specifically, from the beginning of 1948, which culminated in 1952. Then in 1956 to move for related other demands and its result was independence movement in 1966 and independence in 1971.

That is, the impact of the language movement extended to the sentiments, perceptions, politics and independence of the Bengali public. In short, East Bengal or East Pakistan became Bangladesh within two decades of the language movement. Therefore, its significance must be deeply understood through the forward and backward interrelated events and consequences.

Soon after the religious partition of 1947, Pakistan’s negative attitude towards Bengalis began to emerge. Although divided on the basis of religion, their socio-political and racially discriminatory views were soon exposed. It is reflected in their indifference and deprivation towards the majority of Bengali Muslims in East Bengal. It was unexpected that Pakistan’s view of Pakistan as reckless and ‘unrighteous’ would strike so mercilessly at the Bengali-speaking majority so quickly.

Unfortunately, from the beginning of February 1948, discussions on the state language of Pakistan began. Muslim League leaders were in favor of making Urdu the state language. But the language of the majority of Pakistan (56 percent) is Bengali. Despite the logical demands, the conspiracy to exclude Bengali and make only Urdu the state language began. At one stage of the movement, the first Governor General of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, announced on March 19, 1948 at the Race Course Maidan in Dhaka – ‘Urdu will be the only state language of Pakistan.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and many students who were present raised their hands in protest and said – ‘I don’t accept it’. In the convocation meeting of Dhaka University, Jinnah again said, ‘Urdu will be the only state language’. Immediately the students present shouted ‘no, no, no’. Jinnah remained silent for about five minutes.

In this context, Bangabandhu mentioned in his unfinished autobiography – ‘I think this is the first time the students of Bengal protested his words to his face. Thereafter, Jinnah never said Urdu would be the only state language as long as he lived’ (2012, 99). In the meantime, the people of East Bengal began to lose confidence in the Muslim League due to various policies of discrimination including language.

In response to the increasing situation of deprivation and exploitation by Pakistan in East Bengal, a new political party called ‘Awami Muslim League’ was formed in 1949 under the leadership of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, which later became ‘Awami League’ after being inspired by non-sectarian spirit. Non-sectarian ideas began to spread.

The uncivilized Pakistani establishment branded Bengali language as rooted from Sanskrit or Hinduani language, not recognizing 56 percent of the Bengali people out of Pakistan’s total population despite it being our mother tongue – etc. The discriminatory character of communal Pakistanis is clearly revealed everywhere.

In the second half of the 1960s, communal consciousness was awakened in the ideology of non-communal leaders like Maulana Bhasani, Shaheed Suhrawardy, Sheikh Mujib and other non-communal leaders. Which resulted in the successful independence of 1971. So, it can be said that the language movement not only gave Bengalis the right to speak in their mother tongue, but also gave them a red-green flag – an independent homeland for the Bengalis – Bangladesh at the bay of blood in 1971.

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1952 language movement: A quest for cultural and linguistic identity

language movement 1952 essay

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language movement 1952 essay

Historical Background of 1952 Language Movement

Topper BD 25/07/2017 HISTORY , OTHERS

The Language Movement

The Language Movement is a unique event in the history of the political Movement of Bangladesh. Bengali was the mother tongue of about 56 percent of the people of Pakistan. On the other hand, Urdu was the mother tongue of only 6 percent people of the whole of Pakistan. Although 56 percent of the people of Pakistan were Bengalis, the West Pakistani didn’t want Bengali to become the state language.  On the other hand, Bengalis wanted to make their language the state language along with Urdu and had no objections against that language’.

language movement 1952 essay

First Stage of the Language Movement:

Formation of Tamuddin Majlish: On 15 September 1947 Tamuddun Majlis published the booklet on the Language Movement entitled ‘Pakistaner Rastrabhasha Bangla Na Urdu’. Professor Abul Kashem, Dr. Qazi Motahar Hossain and Abul Mansur

Ahmed were the authors of this booklet.  In October 1947 , Tamuddun Majlis formed Rastrabhasha Sangram Parishad to give the Language Movement an organizational structure.

Education Conference in Karachi: In December 1947 an Educational Conference was held in Karachi sponsored by the Government of Pakistan. In this Conference the decision was taken to make Urdu the state language of Pakistan.

Formation of Sangram Parishad: In January 1948 the Rastrabhasha Sangram Parishad was reconstituted with a view to making Bengali a state language. The Sangram Parishad raised the following demands regarding the question of language:

  • Bengali shall be the medium of instruction and the language of the offices and law Courts of East Bengal;                                
  • There will be two state languages of Pakistan Bengali and Urdu.

Second stage of the Language Movement

Demand by Dhirendra Nath Dutta:  In February 1948 when the first Assembly of Pakistan started to record its proceedings in Urdu side by side with English, Dhirendra Nath Dutta of Comilla, a member of Assembly, protested against it and demanded that Bengali be accorded official recognition as one of the languages of the Constituent Assembly.

All-Party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad and Protest on 11 March 1948: On 2 March 1948  formed the All-Party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad . The Samgram Parishad called a general strike on 11 March 1948 to resist the conspiracy of the Government in the language issue. On that day , many students were injured and many leaders including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Shamsul Huq and Oli Ahad were arrested. It was decided that 11 March would be declared ‘ Bengali Language Demand Day’.

In such a situation, the Chief Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin met the Sangram Parishad on 15 March and signed an agreement with them. By this agreement, he agreed to release the arrested students, to investigate police excesses, to move a Bill in the Assembly for making Bengali a state language.

language movement 1952 essay

Mohammad Ali Zinnah on 21 March  1948                               Protest of the students

Announcement of Muhammad Ali Jinnah: On 21 March 1948, Muhammad Ali Jinnah visited Dhaka and addressed a public meeting at the then Race Course Maidan. In that meeting he declared, “Urdu and only Urdu shall be the state language of Pakistan”. When he repeated these words at the Dhaka University Convocation Ceremony held on 24 March at the Curzon Hall, the students protested vehemently by shouting ‘No, No’. On that day, Rastrabhasha Parishad submitted a memorandum to Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Proposed of introduction of Arabic script : In 1948, It is proposed that introduction of Arabic script, or Urdu letters for writing Bengali. Dr. Shahidullah was proposed to be appointed for the purpose of introducing Arabic script. But he rejected the proposal. In April 1949 the students of the Bengali Department, DU submitted a memorandum to Pakistan Education Advisory Board protesting against this objectionable proposal.

Last stage of the Language Movement:

Formation of Purbo Bangla Bhasha Committee: On 9 March 1949 the Government of East Bengal formed the Purbo Bangla Bhasha Committee for reforming Bengali language. Maulana Akram Khan was the President of this Committee.

Announcement of Liaquat Ali Khan: In September 1950 The Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan declared in the Constituent Assembly that only Urdu would be the state language of Pakistan. But in the face of strong protest from the people of East Bengal, the Constituent Assembly postponed the discussion.

Announcement of Liaquat Ali Khan: On 26 January 1952 at a public meeting in Dhaka, Khwaja Nazimuddin declared that Urdu would be the only state language of Pakistan. This declaration created a strong resentment and as a mark of protest a call for hartal throughout the province was given.

Meeting of All Party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Committee : The Committee decided to call a strike on 4 February and observe 21 February as the State Language Day and to observe hartal in the country. February 21 had been chosen as the State Language Day since the East Pakistan Provincial assembly was scheduled to sit on that day.

 Events of 1952:

144 Section:  On 20 February the Government of Nurul Amin, being scared of the student Movement imposed section 144 at 3 p.m., and banned the processions and the meetings.

language movement 1952 essay

On 22 February: A big rally, came out on the street as a mark of protest. Police opened fire on this rally too. As a result, Safiur Rahman was killed. On the same day, in a meeting of the students held at the Dhaka Medical College hostel, it was decided to build a Shaheed Minar. Accordingly, the Students erected a 12-feet high Shaheed Minar in front of DMC.

On 23 February: the father of Shaheed Safiur Rahman formally inaugurated the Shaheed Minar. But in the evening of 24 February , police demolished this Shaheed Minar. In memory of that, another Shaheed Minar was built later on the same site and that is the present Central Shaheed Minar.

Bangla as State language:

At last, the Government of Nurul Amin adopted a resolution in the Provincial  Assembly to the effect that a proposal would be raised at the Constituent Assembly containing the demand to accord Bengali the status of one of the state languages of Pakistan. In the face of continuous student’s and people’s Movements the Pakistan Government was compelled to give Bengali the status of one of the state languages.

Finally, Bengali was given the status of one of the state languages in the Constitution of Pakistan of 1956 .

language movement 1952 essay

Achievements of Language Movement:

The Language Movement of 1952 was the first organized expression of the consciousness of the exploited and deprived masses of Bangladesh. This consciousness born out of the Language Movement inspired all the subsequent Movements and helped achieving the political, the cultural and the economic freedom leading to independence.

Landslide victory in the provincial election in 1954 ( out of 309 seats of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly the United Front got 236, the Muslim League 9)

Reorganization of the Bangla Language  (1956)

Reflection in educational conference (1962)

Six-points (1966)

Mass-uprising (1969)

Landslide victory in the general election (1970)

Great victory in 1971

Observed 21st February as an International

Mother Language day

Observed 2008 as ‘Year of Language’ by UN

International Status of Bangla Language ( Sierra Leone)

Discrimination against East Pakistan:

Form the very beginning, Pakistan had been following a policy of partition against East Pakistan. Political, military, administrative and economic discrimination had been increasing gradually. Bengalis were beginning to perceive that they were being discriminated against in business, government service and all spheres of trade and commerce. Because Karachi was the capital of Pakistan, Bengalis were being deprived of all sorts of advantages. As a result, a wide gap was in the relation between East and West Pakistan.

Socio-Cultural Disparity:

Bengali was the mother tongue of about 56 percent of the people of Pakistan. On the other hand, Urdu was the mother tongue of only 6 percent people of the whole of Pakistan (Census 1951). Thus Bengali, in spite of being the language of the majority of the people of Pakistan, was ignored by the Pakistani ruling group as a state language which was a substantial discrimination against the people of East Pakistan. On the other hand, East Pakistan also deprived from getting reasonable facilities in various social sectors.

[Source: M.A. Rahim et. al., Bangladesher Itihas , P. 480]

Political Disparity

East Bengal became subjected to political discrimination immediately after the birth of the state of Pakistan. Fro m 1947 to 1958 , among all the presidents of Pakistan, one was from East Pakistan who spoke in Urdu and among four Governors within 1955 ; one was from East Pakistan who spoke in Urdu. In reality, East Pakistan was politically neglected by Pakistan from the very beginning. For example, United Front got 236 seats out of 309 in the provincial election in 1954  but this government could not  continue more then two years. In the general elections held on 7 December 1970, the Awami League acquired an absolute majority. The Awami League secured 167 seats out of 169 National Assembly seats in East Pakistan and won 288 out of 300 seats in the Provincial Assembly. But Awami League  did not form the government.  

Employment/Military Disparity

While the security of East Pakistan was uncertain, the province was also subjected to serious discrimination in military matters. The headquarters of the three Defense Services were established in West Pakistan. No Bengali could be found in the high posts in the Defense Services as those posts were monopolized by the West Pakistanis. In the army, 95 percent posts were held by the West Pakistanis and East Pakistan had a share of only 5 percent .

In administrative arena, within 1966, 77% 1st class jobs belonged to the west Pakistani whereas only 23% filled up by the East Pakistani, On the other hand, 74% for 2nd Class, 73% for 3rd Class and 70% for 4th Class jobs went to west Pakistan while remaining  were  for East Pakistan.

[Source: M.A. Rahim et. al., Bangladesher Itihas , P. 479]]

Economic/ Financial Disparity

During the Pakistani rule, East Pakistan was subjected to severe economic disparity. As a result, East Pakistan could never be self- sufficient economically. The provincial government did not have any control over its currency and economy. As everything was controlled by the Centre, all the income of East Pakistan flew away to West Pakistan. Head offices of the State Bank and other banks, insurance companies, trading concerns and foreign missions were established in West Pakistan. About two thirds of the foreign exchange of Pakistan was earned by selling the jute of East Pakistan. But the jute farmers could never get the fair price for their products. On various pretexts the foreign exchange was also spent in West Pakistan.

Disparity in Educational facility:

Huge discrimination was prevailing in the area of education facility also

Source: Bangladesh documents, Ministry of External Affairs, India, 1971 (p:17)

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Books to read on the Bangla language movement

language movement 1952 essay

Countless stories, poems, essays, and novels have been written about the Bangla language movement of 1952. Biographies of martyrs have been authored.

Zahir Raihan, who took an active part in the language movement, details these experiences in his extraordinary work, Ekushey February (Anupam Prokashoni, 1970).

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

Notable author Bashir Al Helal published a book on the movement set against a large canvas, titled, Bhasha Andoloner Itihash (Agamee Prokashoni), with the third edition having come out in 2016. In his book, Al Helal traces back to events before the movement and gives a detailed account of what happened throughout the month of February in 1952. Such an elaborate discussion has found a place in few books since.

Ahmad Rafiq, one of the students who had spearheaded the language movement, wrote several books on the topic: Ekusher Muhurtogulo (Prothoma Prokashon, 2017), Teknaf Theke Tetulia (Prothoma Prokashon, 2019), and Rashtra Bhasha Andolon Onushonggo O Itihash (Anindya Prokashon, 2017), among others.

Rafiq, through his work, emphasises that the language movement was not confined to the capital. Just as the students erupted in protests in Dhaka city, so did parts of Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Bogra, and other parts of the country—movement for the demand of Bangla to be instated as state language, the activists who led the protests outside Dhaka, and other previously unknown facts come up in Rafiq's book.

While Rafiq's Bhasha Andoloner Golpo Shono seeks to draw children into reading about the movement, his Bhasha Andolon Itihash O Tatporjo , co-authored with Abdul Matin, offers insightful reading for adults. Edited by Matiur Rahman, Ekusher Potobhumi, Ekusher Smriti (Prothoma, 2012) is another discerning read.

From the Bangla Academy have arrived books such as Shongrami Abdul Matin written by Mohammad Ali. Professor Anisuzzaman has written on Prothom Shahid Minar O Piyaru Shordar. Aminur Rahman Sultan has written about the language activist in Shongrami Gaziul Haque.

Despite this scattering of titles, there seems to be a dearth of books on the language movement—especially when one considers the innumerable research material available on the 1971 Liberation War.

Fiction writer Imdadul Haque Milon believes the onus falls on writers: "The reason for this scarcity is that writers do not want to put in the hard work. For this, vast research is needed".

"The books that currently exist are not adequate", author Selina Hossain, who has written both fiction and nonfiction on the topic, points out.

Farid Ahmed, publisher of Samay Prokashon, points out that the language movement took place 70 years ago. "Ten books from Samay have been published on the event", he shares, echoing that the research for such a topic takes considerably more effort and source material.

Shah Alam Shazu is a writer and journalist.

Translated from Bangla by Maisha Syeda. 

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Paragraph on Language Movement in Bangladesh

This is a short paragraph about the language movement of Bangladesh. On 21st February, some Advertisement Paragraph on Language Movement Pakistan became independent on 14 August in 1947. Then Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan…

This is a short paragraph about the language movement of Bangladesh. On 21st February, some

Paragraph on Language Movement

Pakistan became independent on 14 August in 1947. Then Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan and Pakistan was West Pakistan. West Pakistan Government wanted to make Urdu the only state language. In March 1948. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the then Governor-General of Pakistan, declared in the convocation of Dhaka University that only Urdu shall be the State Language of Pakistan. The patriotic people of Bangladesh took it as a great blow to their culture. Actually, this declaration sowed the seed of the Language Movement.

Mainly the students and politically conscious people made a strong protest against this. On February 21, 1952, the Language Movement committee decided to go to the East Pakistan Assembly House from Dhaka University. The East Pakistan Govt. promulgated section. 144 in the University and Assembly area. The Bangladesh students violated it. The police opened fire and the streets of Dhaka University was stained with the blood of Barkat , Rafiq , Salam , Jabbar, and others.

The following day strike paralyzed the whole of East Pakistan. At last the Pakistani rulers were compelled to accept Bangla as one of the State Languages of Pakistan. This Language movement created a new national awareness which culminated in the creation of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh observes 21 February as Martyr Day. The U.N.O. declared this day as the International Mother Language Day .

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LANGUAGE MOVEMENT

Profile image of Ferdowsi Hossain

Meanwhile, serious preparation was being taken in various forums of the central government of Pakistan under the initiative of Fazlur Rahman, the central education minister, to make Urdu the only state language of Pakistan. On receipt of this information, East Pakistani students became agitated and held a meeting on the Dhaka University campus on 6 December 1947, demanding that Bangla be made one of the state languages of Pakistan. The meeting was followed by student processions and more agitation. The first Rastrabhasa Sangram Parishad (Language Action Committee) was formed towards the end of December with Professor Nurul Huq Bhuiyan of Tamaddun Majlish as the convener.

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The language issue was the most original and basic issue that proved to be a challenge for Pakistan's leaders as a test of their capacities for appeasing Bengali nationalist movement in East Bengal. This cultural challenge was a first threat to the unity of Pakistan that supported the Bengali movement on a large scale. This paper examines the strategies and policies which Pakistani leaders adopted to respond, to the challenge that was posed by lingual and cultural issues. The paper will also highlight actions and tactics of the leadership in dealing with the language question. The Cultural Challenge – Recognition of Bengali Language The Bhasha Ondolan, the movement which campaigned for the use of Bengali in the domain of power in East Bengal and fought to make it one of the official languages of the state, alongside Urdu, was not merely, or predominantly, a linguistic one, it was a political campaign of the greatest significance for the new state. It was in fact East Bengal's first challenge to the hegemony of the Urdu speaking Bengali aristocracy and West Pakistani ruling elite. 1

Zubair Torwali

The struggle for a separate homeland for the Muslims of India before the partition in 1947 was based on the Two Nation Theory that advocated the concept of Muslim nationhood embedded in religion. At that time the notion of nationhood in Europe was mostly based on language, culture and territory. In order to convince the world to buy the idea of this nationhood the advocates of Muslims needed a single language as well. This they found in the form of Urdu. Thus before Pakistan’s existence Urdu had been made a marker of Muslim nationalism in India. Being anomalous with the general notion of nationalism prevailing in the era of ‘modernity’ the religion-based concept of nationhood was confusing for the Muslims, too. This created an ambiguity which has been haunting Pakistan since its inception. This confusion is reflected in all the attempts of making education policies in Pakistan, too. In Pakistan, the official language policy demonstrates a strong commitment to Urdu in favour of regional languages but stays ambiguous regarding the relative status of Urdu and English. (Tamim, 2014, p. 9). A major challenge faced by the education policy makers in Pakistan was the choice of language and its central role in the process of learning and achievement of education pursuits. (Siddiqui, 2016: 133). Language remained a contested issue even after the independence of the country, giving birth to a number of questions. (Siddiqui, 2016: 133). Shahid Siddiqui, in his recently published book—Education Policies in Pakistan—by the Oxford University Press says that a number of questions such as: what should be the state language of the country? What would be the status of English? How would the provincial languages/regional languages by represented in the policy? What language should be used as medium of instruction? And which language should be kept compulsory in teaching at the educational institutions has haunted Pakistan since its birth in 1947.

Asifa Qasim

The focus of this discussion is the latest language policy in Pakistan, suggested in 2009. The theme of " divide and rule " has been an essential part of language policy in Pakistan through the colonialist role of English during the colonial period as well as the post-independence period. We have analyzed the role of proposed language in NEP (National Education Policy), 2009 in terms of educational divide. The conclusion of this discussion is that teaching in mother tongue for primary education can be successfully implemented. It will help minimize dropout level and help children in their educational careers at the same time. A strategy for the development of English language teaching in Pakistan has also been suggested in this paper. This strategy has been outlined, keeping in view the objectives of the NEP and the available resources. Introduction In the colonial period (1857-1947), English was introduced in Education as a key to join civil service and to promote educated elite class that shared the interests of the British in the Indo-Pak sub-continent. After independence in 1947, the ruling class in Pakistan carried forward the colonial legacy with an over-developed, exclusive English-medium education for the elite, but on the other hand, an Urdu or vernacular-medium education was introduced for the masses. The post-independence era, has a strong nationalist current to constructs Pakistan as a nation unified by one language: Urdu. The national unity of Pakistan feels threatened by more than one languages, as it happened in the case of East Pakistan (Bangal) by declaring Urdu as the national language and omitting Bangla as an important state language. However, the making of Bangladesh as an independent state in 1971 resolved the Urdu-Bengali controversy. The dilemma of this situation was the complexity of identifying a national language between four provincial languages, English as the colonial legacy, Arabic as an Islamic identity and Urdu as a symbol of newly found Muslim nationalism. This in place was complicated by the 1973 Constitution which declared Urdu (the national language), to be the official language within fifteen years, and English would be the de facto official language, until arrangements could be made to implement the constitution. The time frame of fifteen years stipulated for Urdu to become the official language has passed since long. English is still language of power. This policy of differentiating between those that can afford it and those that cannot, creates a similar divide that was created between the colonizer and the colonized. English is for the elite ruling class and Urdu and other regional languages are for masses. This distinction in education system is a powerful marker of social privileges and power distribution in Pakistan. Pakistan's commitment to use Urdu as the medium of instruction in its state schools is evident from the whole national history of sixty-five years. Pakistan is ambitious to provide an easy access to English language learning at the same time. This two dimensional policy, itself, is a barrier to an effective education system. The most recent National Education Policy 2009, has proposed to promote the country's main regional languages as the medium of instruction. The aim is to include the poorest in the mainstream education and skill development system to alleviate poverty. The total Population; in Pakistan was last reported to be 176745364 in 2011(World Bank report, 2012). The population of Pakistan is not only very large but it is very young as well. One third of the population is aged 0-14 years. 8th half the population is under 20, and two thirds are under 30. So almost half of the population is of school age. Pakistan has an economically divided society. Sixty percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day. The top ten percent of the population, holds more than a quarter(26.5%) of the state income. The language policy for schools, inherited from the British rule, is badly effecting the state education. The economic divide can

Cultural Dynamics

Saadia Toor

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United News of Bangladesh (UNB)

Our language, our pride: Sajeeb Wazed pays tribute to Language Movement heroes

D haka, Feb. 21 -- In a profound reflection on the significance of Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day, ICT Adviser to the Prime Minister, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, honored the valor and sacrifice of the 1952 Language Movement martyrs.

Through a message shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, he recounted the historic struggle that not only fought for the Bangla language's recognition as the state language but also symbolized a broader fight for national cultural identity.

From a national tragedy to technological triumph: Sajeeb Wazed's journey in Bangladesh's transformation

"Every year, we take a step back to commemorate our gallant heroes who sacrificed their lives on the fateful day of #21February, 1952 in a bid to defend and uphold our mother tongue and secure it as #StateLanguage," Sajeeb Wazed stated. He highlighted the courage displayed against the powerful state apparatus of Pakistan, where young individuals stood firm for the right of every Bengali citizen to speak their own language.

He emphasized that the Language Movement transcended a mere linguistic battle; it was an effort to safeguard the essence of national cultural identity. "In many respects, the language movement was more than a movement to defend the Bengali #language; it was an endeavour to defend all that we hold dear in terms of national cultural identity," he remarked.

A prosperous and smart future is a fitting tribute to our war heroes: Sajeeb Wazed

The global recognition of 'Amar Ekushey' as International Mother Language Day is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Language Movement martyrs. This day is not only a moment of national remembrance but also an international celebration of linguistic diversity and cultural identity.

The struggle in 1952, initiated by students and activists in Dhaka, marked a pivotal moment in the history of Bangladesh. It set the stage for the subsequent movements leading to independence in 1971.

Today, as Bangladesh and the world observe International Mother Language Day, the message from Sajeeb Wazed serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for linguistic freedom and the ongoing importance of preserving linguistic diversity.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from United News of Bangladesh.

IMAGES

  1. History of Language Movement 1952

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  2. 1952 Language Movement

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  3. 1952 Language Movement

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  4. 2. The Language Movement 1952.docx

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  5. History of Language Movement 1952

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    language movement 1952 essay

VIDEO

  1. ভাষা আন্দোলন ১৯৫২ । The Language Movement 1952 Beginning

  2. The origins of language

  3. Historical Perspectives on Language ; Language families

  4. Nothing just 1952 year language movement in fun way. #funny #trending #viral #trendingshort

  5. 1952 Language movement of Bangladesh rare video footage : ১৯৫২ সনে ভাষা আন্দোলনের একটি দুর্লভ ভিডিও

  6. Movement against verdict of Razakar Kader Mollah by the Int'l War Criminal Tribunal

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Language Movement (1952)

    Language Movement (1952) : The language movement is one of the most important events of our Bangladeshi culture. This was the first step towards the growth of Bangladeshi nationalism and for a unique and separate identity as a Bangladeshi.

  2. 1952 Language Movement: The Turning Point in Bangladesh's Cultural

    The Language Movement of 1952 did more than just advocate for linguistic rights; it ignited a sense of national identity among the Bengali-speaking population. This sense of identity and unity played a crucial role in the eventual struggle for independence, leading to the birth of Bangladesh in 1971.

  3. (Academic) The Language Movement of 1952

    (Academic) The Language Movement of 1952 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15457.02408 Authors: Taseen Islam North South University Preprints and early-stage research may not have been peer reviewed yet....

  4. History of Language Movement 1947-1952

    The girls of Dhaka and the girls of different districts and sub-divisional cities of Bangladesh took an active part in the 1952 language movement. In addition to school-college girls, various members of various women's organizations such as Shishuraksha Samiti, Wari Mahila Samiti, and others actively take part in the 1952 language movement.

  5. The Great Language Movement of Bangladesh: Some Reflections

    The Language Movement is a historical landmark across the world. Its significance lies in the unique way the movement got its own momentum and new sets of leaders, year after year, throughout...

  6. Language Movement Day

    Protest Procession march held on 21 February 1952 in Dhaka At nine o'clock on the morning of 21 February 1952, students began gathering on the premises of the University of Dhaka in defiance of Section 144 of the penal code. The university vice-chancellor and other officials were present as armed police surrounded the campus.

  7. Language for Liberation: The Class Struggle Behind Ekushey ...

    Pakistan Bangladesh Essay Feb 21, 2021 Nafis H February 21, 1952 remains one of the most significant dates in the history of Bangladesh, a landmark day in the context of the 1971 liberation war. To understand how the Bhasha Andolan (Language Movement) became a mass uprising, we must look at the class struggle that led up to the movement.

  8. Bengali language movement

    The students of the University of Dhaka and other political activists defied the law and organised a protest on 21 February 1952. The movement reached its climax when police killed student demonstrators on that day. The deaths provoked widespread civil unrest.

  9. The Contribution of Women in the Bengali Language Movement (1952): A

    In addition to school-college girls, various members of various women's organizations such as Shishuraksha Samiti, Wari Mahila Samiti and others actively take part in 1952 of language movement.

  10. A Brief History of the Bangla Language Movement

    The Cultural Challenge - Recognition of Bengali Language The Bhasha Ondolan, the movement which campaigned for the use of Bengali in the domain of power in East Bengal and fought to make it one of the official languages of the state, alongside Urdu, was not merely, or predominantly, a linguistic one, it was a political campaign of the greatest s...

  11. Language Movement

    Language Movement began in 1948 and reached its climax in the killing of 21 February 1952, and ended in the adoption of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan. The question as to what would be the state language of Pakistan was raised immediately after its creation.

  12. The Bengali Story Behind International Mother Language Day

    T he Language Movement came to a head in 1952 when the Pakistani leadership again reiterated that only Urdu would be the official language of Pakistan. This declaration caused uproar in...

  13. Language Movement and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

    Language Movement and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 17633 Published on February 21, 2017 Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a special contribution to the Language Movement.

  14. Language Movement of 1952: Birth of Bangladesh

    Language Movement of 1952: Birth of Bangladesh S.M.Masud Rana (Robi) Bangladesh appeared on the world map as an independent country in 1971 after a nine-month war of liberation in which nearly one million people died.

  15. Language movement and emergence of Bangladesh

    The proof of this is the language movement of 1952. Language movement is not only about 21 February 1952. The events before and after 1952 must be understood in interrelated historical realities.

  16. 1952 language movement: A quest for cultural and linguistic identity

    Md Jubaer Alam The Bengali Language Movement of 1952 was a significant event in the history of Bangladesh. The movement, which got its start as a protest against Pakistan's declaration of Urdu as its sole official language, grew to represent the Bengali people's resistance and cohesion.

  17. Historical Background of 1952 Language Movement

    Historical Background of 1952 Language Movement Topper BD 25/07/2017 HISTORY, OTHERS The Language Movement The Language Movement is a unique event in the history of the political Movement of Bangladesh. Bengali was the mother tongue of about 56 percent of the people of Pakistan.

  18. BBC World Service

    In February 1952 thousands marched in Dhaka in defence of the Bengali language. Eight protesters were shot dead by police in what became known as Language Movement Day. Show more Download...

  19. Q: Describe influence of language movement

    The girls of Dhaka and the girls of different districts and sub-divisional cities of Bangladesh took an active part in the 1952 language movement. In addition to school-college girls, various members of various women's organizations such as Shishuraksha Samiti, Wari Mahila Samiti, and others actively take part in the 1952 language movement.

  20. Books to read on the Bangla language movement

    Countless stories, poems, essays, and novels have been written about the Bangla language movement of 1952. Biographies of martyrs have been authored.

  21. Paragraph on Language Movement in Bangladesh

    On February 21, 1952, the Language Movement committee decided to go to the East Pakistan Assembly House from Dhaka University. The East Pakistan Govt. promulgated section. 144 in the University and Assembly area. The Bangladesh students violated it.

  22. (DOC) LANGUAGE MOVEMENT

    The Dhaka University Language Action Committee was formed on 11 March 1950 with Abdul Matin as its convener. fBy the beginning of 1952, the Language Movement took a serious turn. Both Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan were dead-Jinnah on 11 September 1948 and Liaquat Ali Khan on 16 October 1951.

  23. বাংলা ভাষা আন্দোলন

    বাংলা ভাষা আন্দোলন ছিল ১৯৪৭ থেকে ১৯৫৬ পর্যন্ত তৎকালীন পূর্ব বাংলায় (বর্তমান বাংলাদেশে) সংঘটিত একটি সাংস্কৃতিক ও রাজনৈতিক আন্দোলন। মৌলিক অধিকার ...

  24. Our language, our pride: Sajeeb Wazed pays tribute to Language Movement

    The struggle in 1952, initiated by students and activists in Dhaka, marked a pivotal moment in the history of Bangladesh. It set the stage for the subsequent movements leading to independence in 1971.