"We are proud of our languages. We love and respect all languages." said Smt. Mamata Bandyopadhyay, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal in 2017 while ascribing official status for Kurukh, a Dravidian language of the Oraon community in West Bengal. Yes, we do not only love and care for our own language, we respect all other languages spoken in the world. Institute of Language Studies and Research (ILSR), the premier language institute under the auspices of Higher Education Department, Govt. of West Bengal, has been spearheading language research right from its inception and tirelessly promoting minor and endangered languages and linguistic communities to uphold their position in the state of West Bengal.
This book is an outcome of that tireless endeavour of ILSR. Professor Amitava Das undertook a colossal study of some of the languages of the linguistic minorities of West Bengal to understand the dynamics of linguistic and cultural shift and how to resolve issues related to the medium of education, literacy programme, language maintenance and revitalisation especially in tribal areas of West Bengal with special reference to Santāli and Mundā. The study, based on the field survey conducted in the years 2010-12 supported by the census data from 1991 to 2011, tries to delineate and highlight the changing scenario of these communities regarding their linguistic and cultural shift that have been instrumental in this state over the preceding two decades prior to 2011.
West Bengal is a smorgasbord of languages with 123 odd mother tongues. Besides all the major languages spoken in this state, the minor languages, too, have rich literary, cultural resources and some of these languages have written literary corpus which enriches the present context of modern world literature. Keeping in mind the very fact that language loss is tantamount to the loss of biodiversity, the West Bengal Government has taken every measure to maintain and revitalize these minor languages by promoting, encouraging and developing language academies, research initiatives. This book is a major step towards understanding the issues and responsibilities accompanying the crucial task of formulating and implementing its policies towards the promotion, propagation and development of language, literature and culture of these minor communities. In 2009 Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger published by UNESCO shows that a staggering number of 196 languages in India are in peril. The West Bengal Government is determined to mitigate the issue of language endangerment in a tangible way. In doing so this book would, I'm sure, pave the way.
The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in language use and proficiency within tribal communities in a post-colonial environment, especially in a diverse country like India. These tribes have historically isolated themselves and faced economic disadvantages, allowing them to preserve their languages and cultures. However, after gaining independence, there was a concerted effort to uplift socially and economically disadvantaged groups. They were encouraged to engage in governance, literacy, and educational initiatives, with legal provisions safeguarding their rights for socio-economic development. Nevertheless, factors like urbanization, globalization, and the emergence of new media have significantly transformed rural life in India, leading to shifts in tribal communities' attitudes and aspirations. Unfortunately, tribal languages received limited attention throughout this process. It wasn't until 2003, 56 years after independence, that Santali was recognized as one of India's scheduled languages in the 8th schedule of the constitution.
As of the 2011 census, the tribal population in India stands at over 104.3 million, making up 8.6% of the total population. It's evident that their progress in social, political, and economic spheres has been hindered due to the neglect of their languages, recognizing the immense power language holds. Consequently, India holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of endangered languages, with approximately 196 Indian languages facing the risk of extinction, the majority of which are tribal languages. Unless there is a concerted effort to promote and nurture these languages in governance, education, and media, the trend of tribes adopting more prestigious languages will continue, posing a threat to their linguistic heritage and cultural identity. To transform these languages into tools for employment, it is imperative that we analyze language usage patterns within the context of multilingualism and gather data for a language policy in primary and secondary education tailored for the tribal communities of West Bengal.
The field survey utilized a method of stratified random sampling, and the analysis of data took into account various demographic factors such as age, gender, literacy levels, migration patterns, distribution between rural and urban populations, and cultural influences. The study revealed that language shift is occurring across the state, but the extent of this shift varies based on exposure to external influences and other communication-related elements. Languages spoken on the outskirts of major languages show a greater tendency to undergo a shift in linguistic identity. Apart from literacy rates, factors like per capita income, involvement in non-primary economic sectors (such as secondary and tertiary labour), migration patterns, the impact of electronic media, and other variables have been identified as linked to language shift.
The study drew from both primary and secondary data sources. Field surveys were conducted in various districts of West Bengal, including South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Burdwan, Birbhum, Purulia, Bankura, East and West Medinipur, Kolkata, Dakshin Dinajpur, among others. While the Santali language was officially designated as one of West Bengal's languages in 2011, its full integration across all relevant domains is still pending. Despite constitutional provisions safeguarding the right to primary education in one's native language, this remains largely unrealized for marginalized groups. Literacy rates among minority linguistic groups, particularly tribal communities, are directly correlated with language shift. This sadly reflects a state of linguistic dominance, with minimal representation from the respective tribal communities, except for the Santali community, which is the second-largest linguistic group in West Bengal.
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