India's Tower of Babel

In India, where linguistic diversity influences power struggles, state policies, and cultural unity, language continues to be used as a political tool

- FR. JOHN FELIX RAJ & PRABHAT KUMAR DATTA

FR. JOHN FELIX RAJ IS THE VICE CHANCELLOR AND PRABHAT KUMAR DATTA, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT XAVIER LAW SCHOOL. BOTH AT ST XAVIER'S UNIVERSITY, KOLKATA

In countries near and far, language has been wielded as a potent tool of politics, sparking widespread revolts. From Sri Lanka and Nepal to Spain and the Czech Republic, linguistic tensions have fueled nationalist movements. The Kurdish struggle for linguistic recognition has garnered international attention, while perceived linguistic discrimination has driven violent separatist attempts, such as those by Basque nationalists in Spain.

In South Asia, language issues have been a rallying cry for nations since the end of colonial rule. The emergence of Bangladesh in 1971 was rooted in the long history of the Bengali language movement. The concept of aligning physical borders with linguistic ones is a relatively recent development, dating back to the 20th century.

One perspective suggests that the Treaty of Versailles, which redrew European borders based on ethnicity, marked a turning point in linking nationality to language. This idea gained momentum after World War I, and by the mid-20th century, language had become a preferred way to define national boundaries, supplanting geographical features like mountains and rivers as the primary basis for dividing populations.

Language Politics in India: A Complex Landscape

India's linguistic diversity is unparalleled, with over 1,600 mother tongues spoken across the country. This diversity has contributed to complex language politics that have significantly influenced India's socio-political landscape. From colonial times to the present day, language politics in India has been a battleground for identity, power, and cultural preservation.

Historical Context: Language Movements and Independence