Lecture and Explanation, Reading to be covered:
Baruah, Sanjib, 1989, Cultural Politics of Language, Sub-nationalism and Pan-Indianism in, From India Against Itself: Assam and the Politics of Nationalism, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 69-90
Keywords: Assam Movement, Assam Problem, Culture and Nationalism, Sub-nationalism, Pan-nationalism,
The University of Delhi, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology of India: Images and Reality
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| Cultural Politics of Language, Sub-nationalism and Pan-Indianism in Assam, Sanjib Baruah, |
This article is focusing on the relation between language and cultural identity with nationalism. How people are feeling proud, suppress or depressed on the basis of language and cultural freedom or domination. The article is also focusing on the relation between Sub-nationalism and Pan-nationalism. By Sub-nationalism the author means regionalism. However, the word Sub-nationalism is not giving the equal meaning of regionalism. The word Sub-nationalism has slightly no negative taste, where regionalism has slightly negative tastes. Author Sanjib Baruah using the terminology Pan-Indianism to address Pan-nationalism or Nationalism at the national level.
Before going to the article I would like to suggest that everyone should read the #BOOK Nationalism by Rabindranath Tagore. #YOU-CAN-FIND #THAT-BOOK here https://amzn.to/3vMxGFy
Author Sanjib Baruah made it clear at the beginning that nationalism is a post-colonial political feature.
#WHAT-IS #POST-COLONIAL #FIND-HHERE
https://www.britannica.com/topic/postcolonialism
https://www.britannica.com/topic/postcolonialism
Historically the regionalism, or what the author called it sub-nationalism, in India arose simultaneously with – and indeed sometimes predating – pan-India nationalism.
Cultural Foundation of Sub-nationalism
The cultural foundation of sub-nationalism was the emerging of a region, or to be precise, the language that was emerging as a regional standard.
Ranjit Guha’s description of the beginnings of nationalism in Bengal can be extended to another area of India as well, even though the timing varied from region to region. During the middle of the 19th century, the Bengali language was beginning to be recognised by its educated middle-class speakers as an index of their identity. Later on, the Bengali language becomes a nation and distinguished from the English-speaking rulers.
Pg. 70
The Bengali language becomes a defining element of their relationship with the colonial rulers, and also acts of political resistance.
The Bengali language becomes a defining element of their relationship with the colonial rulers, and also acts of political resistance.
This sub-nationalism was provided with a powerful connection to pan-India nationalism.
#RELATED-LECTURE: YOU SHOULD ALSO READ IT
The Assam Movement, by Sanjib Baruah h, in Social Movement, by TK Oommen, 2010
#RELATED-LECTURE: YOU SHOULD ALSO READ IT
The Assam Movement, by Sanjib Baruah h, in Social Movement, by TK Oommen, 2010
Apart from many regions, the Assamese were also started thinking about their regional identities. Historian H. K. Barpujari writes about changes in Assamese politics during the second decades of the nineteenth century as follows –
The new groups of Assamese elite with nationalist outcome entered into the politics and identified with the Indian National Congress, and participated in the freedom movement.
The new groups of Assamese elite with nationalist outcome entered into the politics and identified with the Indian National Congress, and participated in the freedom movement.
But the relationship between sub-nationalism and pan-Indianism in Assam has been significantly tenser – sometimes it was open and sometimes it was hidden.
Pg. 71
The author says that in this chapter he described the impact of Assamese language, literature, and culture on politics, sub-nationalism and the pan-nationalism that came to the done during the anti-colonial struggle itself. These tensions ions become more pronounced in the postcolonial period.
The author says that in this chapter he described the impact of Assamese language, literature, and culture on politics, sub-nationalism and the pan-nationalism that came to the done during the anti-colonial struggle itself. These tensions ions become more pronounced in the postcolonial period.
Language, Literature, and the Beginnings of Assamese Sensationalism
The themes of asserting the autonomy and distinctiveness of the Assamese language and culture are almost as old as the British conquest of Assam.
British colonial officials in 1836, a decade after the takeover of Assam, had decided that the language of rule in Assam would be Bengali.
People of Assam opposed this move strongly. As a result of their efforts, in 1873 Assamese once again become the language of schools and of the judicial proceeding.
For Assamese Bengali as an official language was a dark period.
In 1888 an organisation called “Association for the Development o the Assamese Language” was founded in Calcutta by Assamese students studying in Calcutta, (then) capital of Assam. This was a landmark in the history of the Assamese language and literature.
Pg. 72
The Politics of Language Standardization: Whom Could the New Nationalism Include?
In 1888 an organisation called “Association for the Development o the Assamese Language” was founded in Calcutta by Assamese students studying in Calcutta, (then) capital of Assam. This was a landmark in the history of the Assamese language and literature.
Pg. 72
The Politics of Language Standardization: Whom Could the New Nationalism Include?
The major project of “Association for the Development of the Assamese Language” was to standardize the Assamese language through standardizing the grammar, spelling, and pronunciation.
Pg. 73
But they did not success because of various reasons. The main reason was that they did not get proper support and pre-domination of the Bengali language and other cultural relations.
But they did not success because of various reasons. The main reason was that they did not get proper support and pre-domination of the Bengali language and other cultural relations.
Pg. 74
Many “tribal” groups and geographical regions were also not associated with the Assamese language. They had either their own language or they were more associated with the other languages groups.
Many “tribal” groups and geographical regions were also not associated with the Assamese language. They had either their own language or they were more associated with the other languages groups.
Pg. 75
Apart from many small regional movements within the Assam, the number of “tribal” groups had their own languages, received more public recognition, suggest that the emergence of standard modern Assamese has not quite closed the door to a significant rethinking on the part of these groups about the desirability of cultural assimilating into the Assamese sub-national formation.
Apart from many small regional movements within the Assam, the number of “tribal” groups had their own languages, received more public recognition, suggest that the emergence of standard modern Assamese has not quite closed the door to a significant rethinking on the part of these groups about the desirability of cultural assimilating into the Assamese sub-national formation.
Apart from the independent language identity of the “tribal” communities, it was not supported by the economically rich communities, like zamindars/ landlords.
Pg. 76
Assamese Sub-nationalism and Pan-Indianism
Before the First World War, the Indian National Congress had almost no presence in Assam. “Assam Association” was the most influential public organisation in Assam.
Assamese Sub-nationalism and Pan-Indianism
Before the First World War, the Indian National Congress had almost no presence in Assam. “Assam Association” was the most influential public organisation in Assam.
Pg. 77
The Assam Association was formed in 1903 in order to “give its loyal support to the British Government”.
The Assam Association was formed in 1903 in order to “give its loyal support to the British Government”.
One of the major issues the Assam Association took up soon after its formation was to oppose Assam’s incorporation into a single province called East Bengal and Assam in 1905.
In 1907 Association submitted a memorandum to the British Government for separation from Bengal.
In 1920 the Assam Association demanded university in Assam.
In 1916 Assam Association voted to send delegates to the Indian National Congress to establish a formal relationship with the Indian National Congress.
Pg. 78
Ambikagiri Raychaudharu: The Career of a “Provincial” Patriot
Assam has seen tension between sub-nationalism and pan-nationalism through the career of the controversial Assamese literary and cultural figure, Ambikagiri Raychaudhuri (1885-1967). A militant anti-colonial activist, Raychaudhuri, was a prominent leader in Indian National Congress in Assam.
But in 1926 he formed the Assam Preservation Society to promote Assamese sub-nationalism.
Ambikagiri Raychaudharu: The Career of a “Provincial” Patriot
Assam has seen tension between sub-nationalism and pan-nationalism through the career of the controversial Assamese literary and cultural figure, Ambikagiri Raychaudhuri (1885-1967). A militant anti-colonial activist, Raychaudhuri, was a prominent leader in Indian National Congress in Assam.
But in 1926 he formed the Assam Preservation Society to promote Assamese sub-nationalism.
In 1936 he formed Assam National Assembly.
He articulated Assamese as a single Jati as a sub-national or nationality within the great nation India as a Mahajati
He wanted self-assertion (Atma Pratishtha) by India’s Nationalities (Jati).
Pg. 79
His goal was to “ensure the full control of the Assamese over Assam’s land and natural resources, agriculture, commerce, and industry trade, employment, language and literature, culture and ethos.
His goal was to “ensure the full control of the Assamese over Assam’s land and natural resources, agriculture, commerce, and industry trade, employment, language and literature, culture and ethos.
He died in 1967 as an isolated person.
In 1935 Gyananath Borah publish a set of essay called Foreigners in Assam. >>> one of the essay addressed the tension between Assamese sub-nationalism and pan-Indianism and made the case that it was important to attend to the special concerns of the Assamese.
Pg. 80
Gyannath Borah argued the case for protecting the autonomy of India’s provinces. “In European countries such as Austria and Switzerland,” he argued, “a number of nations have come together to form one nation”.
Gyannath Borah argued the case for protecting the autonomy of India’s provinces. “In European countries such as Austria and Switzerland,” he argued, “a number of nations have come together to form one nation”.
Pg. 81
Assamese versus Pan-Indian Discourse
Assamese versus Pan-Indian Discourse
Immigration Policy
Gyannath Borah’s booklet Foreigner in Assam elaborates the Assamese concern with immigration, a concern he did not see as being in conflict with an active engagement with pan-Indian oppositional politics.
Gyannath Borah’s booklet Foreigner in Assam elaborates the Assamese concern with immigration, a concern he did not see as being in conflict with an active engagement with pan-Indian oppositional politics.
But for him, foreigners are started controlling everything.
Pg. 82
Therefore, “freeing Assam from the grip of the foreigner” is “the only road to Assam’s autonomy and progress”.
Therefore, “freeing Assam from the grip of the foreigner” is “the only road to Assam’s autonomy and progress”.
The immigration issue shook up Assam’s politics in the 1930s and 1940s. The focus of the controversy was the Line System –
Pg. 83
(...) an administrative measure adopted in 1920 that sought largely unsuccessfully, to restrict immigrant settlement to certain parts of a district.
(...) an administrative measure adopted in 1920 that sought largely unsuccessfully, to restrict immigrant settlement to certain parts of a district.
Maulana Bhasani, who later on become a prominent political figure in Bangladesh advocate unrestricted migration.
The demand for the abolition of the Line System was related to the movement for a separate Muslim homeland. Assamese also thought that these migrations could alter the ethnic composition.
In 1937 the Government of Assam has appointed a committee to enquire into the operation of the Line System.
Between 1937-1947 migrations were the one the biggest issue of Assam.
Pg. 84
Cabinet Mission Plan and Assam
In 1946 Cabinet Mission come with the proposal for an Independent India that Assam would be a confederation of two groups of provinces, one Hindu and the other Muslim.
Cabinet Mission Plan and Assam
In 1946 Cabinet Mission come with the proposal for an Independent India that Assam would be a confederation of two groups of provinces, one Hindu and the other Muslim.
The president of the Assam Congress – an ethnic Assamese Muslim – called the proposal a “death sentence” for Assam.
Pg. 85
Settlement of Partition Refugee
Settlement of Partition Refugee
After independence, there was tension between sub-national and pan-nationalism on the subject of accommodation of refugees.
On the question of the settlement of Hindu refugees from East Bengal Assam Premier Bordoloi argued that Assam could not accommodate a large number of refugees.
Nehru wrote Bordoloi that Assam was “getting a bad name for its narrow-minded policy.”
However, Bordoloi has said that he cannot ignore the problem of their own people, they are themselves suffering from landlessness.
Pg. 86
Assamese Sub-nationalism and Postcolonial Assam
TAKE A BREAK AND SEE THIS VIDEO on Assam Politics
When 13 years back, Mamata Banerjee resigned from LS on the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators, by ABP News, 1 August 2018
Assamese Sub-nationalism and Postcolonial Assam
TAKE A BREAK AND SEE THIS VIDEO on Assam Politics
When 13 years back, Mamata Banerjee resigned from LS on the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators, by ABP News, 1 August 2018
A Marxist historian of Assam’s anti-colonial struggle describe Ambikagiri Raychaudhuri’s influence as “chauvinistic” (= aggressively and blindly patriotic, especially one devoted to military glory).
Raychaudhuri’s concept of dual citizenship, Amalendu Guha argues, was not acceptable by Assamese people.
Pg. 87-88-89
In the last part of the article author Sanjib Baruah, has written about cultural expression and Sub-nationalism in Assam.
In the last part of the article author Sanjib Baruah, has written about cultural expression and Sub-nationalism in Assam.
Culture, Literature and Music are always following the political structure and situation. He wrote the song “foreigner” as well as other songs. He is the person who linked Assam with the pan-India.
Listen to the Legendary Assamese Singer Bhupen Hazarika (08.09.1926-05.11.2011), PhD from Calcutta University in 1950
O Bideshi Bondhu | Assamese Song | Bhupen Hazarika
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EkOI1I9yTA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EkOI1I9yTA
dola he dola..Aka baka pothe mora kadhey niye..Hindi,Assamese & Bangala_Dr.Bhupen Hazarika_a tribute
Dil Hoom Hoom Kare-Male Version Video - Rudaali|Dimple Kapadia|Lata Mangeshkar|Gulzar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxO1MN67Vtg
Bihu is a popular song and dance of Assam
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