Now Reading: Assam CM urges settlers to list Assamese as mother tongue
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Assam CM urges settlers to list Assamese as mother tongue
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday urged people from other Indian states who have settled in Assam to list 'Assamese' as their mother tongue during the ongoing Census. He made…
The Story in Brief
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday urged people from other Indian states who have settled in Assam to list 'Assamese' as their mother tongue during the ongoing Census. He made the appeal against the backdrop of a steady decline in Assamese speakers, from 59.5% in 1971 to 48.4% in 2011. Sarma said Bengali-speaking Barak Valley residents and tribal communities are free to use their own discretion and report their own languages. Self-enumeration runs from August 2 to 16; house-listing follows from August 17 to September 15. The process has been postponed in flood-hit Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.
The Indian Opinion
This appeal is being framed by some as a cultural assertion and by others as a demographic anxiety ploy. The reality is more measured: Sarma explicitly exempted tribals and Barak Valley from the request, acknowledging their distinct languages. The sharp drop in Assamese speakers from 59.5% (1971) to 48.4% (2011) is undeniable, but Census self-declaration is voluntary. The real test will be the 2026 Census figures: will this appeal sway migrants, or will they continue reporting their ancestral languages?
Source: indiatoday.in
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