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Assignment on

Language Movement in 1952

Department of Business Administration

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology,

Sylhet-3114

Course name: History of the Emergence of Independent Bangladesh

Course Code: SSS-100i

Date of Submission: April 04, 2023, Tuesday

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Submitted To:

Sabina Yasmin

Assistant Professor

Department of Public Administration

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology,

Sylhet-3114

Submitted By:

Name Reg. No.

Bijoy Debnath 2021731014
Sonjib Das 2021731074
Md. Jariful Alam khan Jarif 2021731004
Dipto Nath 2021731054
Rana Das 2021731064
Mohammed Ramjan Ali 2021731024
Masuma Tarafdar Dina 2021731034
Tania Akter 2021731044
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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. After the creation of Pakistan, from
1948 to 21 February 1952 the movement in east Pakistan to make Bengali one of the state
languages of Pakistan was called Language Movement.

The language movement was divided into two phases:

1. By 1948, the movement was largely confined to the educated and intellectual
classes.

2. By 1952, the language movement had spread throughout the Bengali nation.

Background of the Language Movement:

The state of Pakistan was formed on 14 August, 1947 on the basis of biracialism.
The two part of Pakistan had no similarity in respect of history, tradition, culture,
language. Despite the parts; West Pakistan and East Pakistan (East Bengal) having
situated 1000 miles apart, they become one on the basis of only religion. The ruler class from
the West Pakistan vested themselves to exploit the East Pakistan in suppressive manner from
the very first day of Independence from British Monarchy in August 1947. They had tried to
impose Urdu' as the state language; which was only spoken by a minor 3.27% people
ignoring the vast majority of 56.40% of its total population speaking Bengali. The rulers
from West Pakistan declared Urdu as the state language of Pakistan ignoring the
opinion of the majority group. The scholars of Bengal erupted in oppose of the decision.
They strongly protested this discriminating decision. In this way, the language movement
started to get its momentum. The agitation reached its peak in 1952. The whole country (East
Pakistan) followed the demonstration. The first time in the world history; Salam, Barkat,
Rafique, Jabbar and many other embraced martyrdom for the love of their mother
tongue. Language movement had sowed the seed of independence within the dream of
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Bengali Nation. This motivated the long thriving struggle and revolution to give birth of a
new country - our beloved Bangladesh.

Reasons behind the Language Movement:

Irrational decision to make Urdu the State language of Pakistan:
They had tried to impose Urdu' as the state language; which was only spoken by a minor
3.27% people ignoring the vast majority of 56.40% of its total population speaking Bengali.
The rulers from West Pakistan declared Urdu as the state language of Pakistan ignoring the
opinion of the majority group. The used Urdu in the office, court as a official language.

Development of Bengali nationalism:

In just a few years, Gana-Azadi League, Democratic Juba League, East Pakistan
Muslim Chatra League, Awami Muslim League etc. were established. They raised their
voice and demanded to make Bengali the state language along with Urdu.

The Emergence of Various Organizations:

Besides, many organizations like Tamuddin Majlis, Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad,
All-Party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad etc established in that time.Through all
these organizations Bengali nationalism developed. As a result, the people of East Pakistan
were not willing to give concessions.

Emergence of Intellectual Class:

Many intellectuals like Professor Abul Kashem, Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, Maulana
Akram Khan, Kazi Motahar Hossain has emerged. They came to light and play an
important role to the language movement.

Economical Reason:
Although the language movement started as a cultural movement, but there were economic
reasons behind this movement. Since the creation of Pakistan, there has been food shortage
in East Bengal due to their discriminatory policies. Due to their discriminatory policies,
famine occurred in Khulna, Faridpur, Sylhet, Mymensingh and North Bengal in 1948-
1949 and 1951. As a result, the revolt of peasants, workers and lower-middle class
people later turned into a political demand.
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The failure of the rulers to run the state Torture of Bengalis by the Petwa forces of
Pakistan:
On 31st August 1947, anonymous Pakistani gangster attacked the students of Fazlul
Haque Hall of Dhaka University. As a result, dissatisfaction was created among the
students.

Events of Language Movement:

The state of Pakistan was formed on 14 August, 1947 on the basis of biracialism.
The two part of Pakistan had no similarity in respect of history, tradition, culture,
language. Despite the parts; West Pakistan and East Pakistan (East Bengal) having
situated 1000 miles apart, they become one on the basis of only religion. The ruler class from
the West Pakistan vested themselves to exploit the East Pakistan in suppressive manner from
the very first day of Independence from British Monarchy in August 1947. They had tried to
impose Urdu' as the state language; which was only spoken by a minor 3.27% people
ignoring the vast majority of 56.40% of its total population speaking Bengali. First, at the
National Education Conference in Karachi in November 1947, the original proposal
supported Urdu and English as the only state languages. There was immediate opposition
and protest. Later, Dhirendranath Dutta, a member of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly,
first demanded that Bengali be made the official language of Pakistan along with Urdu.
However, on March 21, 1947, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first Governor-General of
Pakistan, declared that Urdu and Urdu would be the only official state languages of Pakistan.
The Bengali people opposed this declaration. Students and intellectuals in East Pakistan.

Importance/Significance:
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.

In the cultural field:

The language movement has not only enriched the Bengali culture but also the culture of the
whole world. Every year 21st February is celebrated all over the world as the
International Mother Language Day. We have struggled to acquire this language. '21
February' has been declared as 'International Mother Language Day' on 17 November,
1999 in the general assembly of UNESCO in Paris. Since 2000, this day has been
observed in the international arena with proper honor and manifesto. Today, as a nation, we
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are proud that the highest sacrifices of Bangladesh, Bengali and our language movement
are recognized, much admired, remembered with gratitude and honored worldwide.

The beginning of a new horizon in Bengali literature:

Numerous plays, novels, films, poems and songs have been written about the language
movement. As a result, a new horizon in Bengali literature was started through language
movement.

Creation of new occasions in Bengali culture:

This movement has given a new definition to Bengali culture through the development
and inauguration of Bengali language, literature and culture. Language is not only the main
representative of the culture of a nation, it creates patriotism and nationalism in the minds of
the people. Martyr's Day is celebrated on 21st February on the occasion of language
movement. Besides, 21st February was declared a public holiday, a month-long
Ekushey Book Fair was organized and "Ekushey Padak" was given to those who
sacrificed their lives in the language movement.

Emergence of Intellectual Class:

Many intellectuals like Professor Abul Kashem, Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, Maulana
Akram Khan, Kazi Motahar Hossain has emerged. They came to light and play an
important role to the language movement.

Development of Bengali nationalism:

In just a few years, Gana-Azadi League, Democratic Juba League, East Pakistan
Muslim Chatra League, Awami Muslim League etc. were established. They raised their
voice and demanded to make Bengali the state language along with Urdu.

The Emergence of Various Organizations :

Besides, many organizations like Tamuddin Majlis, Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad,
All-Party Rashtrabhasha Sangram Parishad etc established in that time.Through all
these organizations Bengali nationalism developed. As a result, the people of East Pakistan
were not willing to give concessions
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