Syllabus: GS-I – Indian Society 

Why in the news?

The decreasing share of the Assamese-speaking population in Assam has emerged as a pressing issue. Reports show that the proportion of people reporting Assamese as their first language dropped from about 59.53 % in 1971 to 48.38 % in 2011. 

More About the News

• Although the 2021 census was delayed due to the pandemic, estimates suggest the figure could now be around 46 % or lower.
  This trend raises concerns about the future cultural and linguistic identity of the indigenous Assamese community.
• The decline has triggered alarm among cultural and student organisations like the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which warn that indigenous Assamese may soon become a minority in their own state.

What the data shows

• In 1971, Assamese‐speakers accounted for roughly 59.53 % of Assam’s population (about 8.9 million people).
• By the 2011 Census: Assamese speakers were 48.38 % of the state population, numbering approximately 1.5 crore.
• Over the same period, the percentage of Bengali speakers rose from about 19.70 % in 1971 to 29.91 % in 2011.
• While the absolute number of Assamese speakers grew, their share declined because other language‐communities grew faster, and migration/infiltration dynamics played a role.
• Academic studies show that even with the total number of Assamese mother‐tongue speakers increasing, the proportion has fallen due to other groups’ growth and switching of mother-tongues.
  

Causes of the decline

Several inter-linked factors explain this decline:

• Migration/infiltration – Increased migration from neighbouring Bangladesh and higher growth among some minority communities have contributed to the drop in Assamese-language share.
  
• Fertility differentials and demographic growth – Indigenous Assamese fertility has declined, while some other communities have had higher growth rates in certain districts, altering the linguistic composition.
  
• Language assimilation and reporting – In some cases, bilingualism/trilingualism leads to different reporting of mother-tongue in census data. Some non-Assamese communities may adopt Assamese as their second or third language, but their mother-tongue remains different.
  
• Policy and identity challenges – The question of “who is Assamese?” is contested—whether those who use Assamese as second or third language count, or only first-language users.
  
• Lack of strong language preservation policy – While Assamese is recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and is the official language of Assam, targeted measures for its expansion in education or administration remain limited.
  

Why does it matter?

• Cultural Identity: Language is central to cultural identity. A shrinking share of Assamese speakers may weaken the collective voice of the indigenous community.
  
• State Cohesion: Assam was formed as a linguistically organised state. Decline of the major language-group raises questions of social harmony and regional cohesion.
  
• Educational & Administrative Impact: If fewer people use Assamese as first language, the medium of instruction, official use and cultural transmission may suffer.
  
• Policy and Rights: Language-minority issues tie into rights protections under Indian law including Articles 29 and 30 (cultural and educational rights).
  
• Political Stakes: Linguistic shifts can influence electoral politics, resource allocation, and inter-community relations.

Language-related provisions in the Indian Constitution

• Article 29 & 30 – Protect the rights of linguistic and cultural minorities.
• Articles 343–351 (Part XVII) – Deal with the Official Language of the Union and States.
  • Article 343: Declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the Union’s official language.
  • Article 345: Allows states to adopt one or more languages as their official language.
  • Article 347: Enables recognition of regional languages on demand.
  • Article 350A: Directs states to provide primary education in the mother tongue for linguistic minorities.
  • Article 350B: Provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.
  • Article 351: Promotes the development of Hindi by drawing upon other Indian languages, including Assamese.
• Eighth Schedule – Recognises 22 languages, including Assamese, as official languages of India, ensuring representation in public services and national institutions.

What is being done / What can be done?

Assamese enjoys both constitutional and cultural recognition, being one of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule and declared a Classical Language of India by the Government of India for its rich literary and linguistic heritage. However, more proactive steps are needed to ensure its vitality in modern times.

Ongoing Measures:

• The Government of Assam has reaffirmed that Assamese will remain the official language of the state.
  
• Cultural bodies such as the Asam Sahitya Sabha have been promoting Assamese through literature, education, and digital initiatives.
  
• Inclusion of Assamese as a compulsory subject in schools up to a certain level is being implemented to strengthen linguistic familiarity.
  

Suggested Measures:

• Educational Strengthening – Introduce Assamese as a mandatory second language in schools across the state, including private and English-medium institutions.
  
• Digital & Media Integration – Promote Assamese content in technology, OTT platforms, and government digital services to keep it relevant in the modern communication ecosystem.
  
• Official Language Implementation – Ensure wider use of Assamese in administration, judiciary, and documentation to make it more functional and aspirational.
  
• Bilingual Harmony – Encourage non-native communities to learn Assamese as a second language while preserving their linguistic heritage to promote inclusivity.
  
• Cultural Promotion – Support literature, cinema, and folk culture projects in Assamese through schemes like Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and the Scheme for Promotion of Regional and Tribal Languages under the Ministry of Culture.
  
• Population and Migration Management – Effective border management and demographic planning to preserve Assam’s cultural balance.

In the long run, language preservation must go hand-in-hand with inclusive multilingualism so that Assamese continues to be a living, growing medium of identity and unity.

Key terms explained

• Mother-tongue: The language a person identifies as their first or native language, usually learnt in childhood.
  
• Eighth Schedule of the Constitution: Lists the official recognised languages of India; Assamese appears here.
  
• Linguistic State: Concept where a state is organised based on dominant language; Assam is one such example post-States Reorganisation.
  
• Bilingualism/Trilingualism: The condition of using two or three languages; in Assam many tribal or migrant communities are bilingual with Assamese and their native tongue.
  
• Language share/percentage: The proportion of a population reporting a language as their mother-tongue; decline means relative drop even if absolute numbers rise.
  

Exam Hook

• Develop a policy brief (250 words) for the Government of Assam outlining steps to stabilise and promote the Assamese language while ensuring inclusive multilingual harmony.
  

Key Take-aways

• The share of Assamese as mother-tongue in Assam has fallen from ~59.5 % in 1971 to ~48.4 % in 2011 and likely lower now.
  
• Even though absolute numbers of speakers rose, the relative decline reflects faster growth of other linguistic communities and migration.
  
• Causes: demographic shifts, migration/infiltration, language reporting practices, identity definitions, policy gaps.
  
• Implications: Threat to linguistic identity, cultural transmission, and state coherence—urgent need for inclusive and well-designed language policy.
  
• Solutions must balance the promotion of Assamese with respect for multilingual diversity, while anchoring education, administration and community participation.
  

Question for Mains

“What are the factors leading to the decline of Assamese-speaking population share in Assam, and what policy measures should the state adopt to reverse the trend while ensuring inclusive language rights?”

One-line wrap:
The declining share of Assamese speakers in Assam signals both a cultural and socio-linguistic challenge, calling for urgent, inclusive policy action.

https://epaper.assamtribune.com/full-page-pdf/epaper/pdf/2025/10/29/the-assam-tribune/7238