How language became a battleground in Assam

Key Points

1. 1961: Assam government amended Official Language Act, recognizing Assamese as the sole official language.
2. May 19, 1961: Security forces firing in Silchar resulted in 11 deaths.
3. The study highlights the role of colonial policies in shaping linguistic hierarchies.
4. The Shastri Formula was an interim measure that failed to address underlying tensions.
5. The study emphasizes that language solidarity cut across religious lines during the 1961 protests.
6. The study was published in Contemporary South Asia.