Language-Based Nationalism: A Historical Analysis of Bengali Language Movement 1952

Abstract

The paper examines the Bengali language movement in 1952 as the base of Bengali nationalism under the theoretical framework of language and nationalism. The idea of “one nation, one language”, in linguistically diverse regions like Pakistan, often results in the state’s oppressive policies to suppress the other languages and neglect the sentiments associated with them. Bengali language movement got its base right after the creation of Pakistan but gained its momentum in 1952. The state’s obvious response was suppression, resulting in converting the language movement into a nationalist ideology, which provided the base for the separation of East Pakistan in 1971. The paper qualitatively argues that the colonial impression of adopting one language as a national symbol resulted in making Urdu Pakistan’s national language; this colonial notion developed a sense of deprivation among the regional languages like Bengali with rich historical and cultural background, stemming from the idea of separate nationalism.