Sagarika Ghose Sounds Warning Over Language-Based Targeting in India

In a passionate and pointed intervention in the national discourse, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sagarika Ghose, representing the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has sharply criticized what she describes as a growing wave of “linguistic terror” being inflicted on Bengali-speaking citizens across parts of India. Terming the phenomenon “deeply worrying and utterly unacceptable,” Ghose’s remarks have triggered wide-ranging reactions — from solidarity and praise to pushback from sections accusing her of politicizing cultural tensions.

The respected journalist-turned-parliamentarian raised the issue in an emotional address that underscored a growing sentiment among certain linguistic communities in India: that language is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for discrimination, exclusion, and identity politics.

The Context: A Rising Sense of Alienation

Ghose’s remarks come amid a series of incidents where Bengali-speaking individuals — especially migrant workers and students in states like Karnataka, Assam, and parts of Maharashtra — have allegedly faced verbal abuse, eviction threats, employment discrimination, and public humiliation solely based on their language.

Citing multiple recent cases, Ghose accused authorities of turning a blind eye to “linguistic profiling” where non-native language speakers are treated as second-class citizens. “India is a multilingual republic,” she stated, “not a monolingual state dictated by linguistic majoritarianism.”

She emphasized that while unity in diversity is a constitutional ideal, “today we are watching the erosion of this foundation in real time.”

Linguistic Identity and the Indian Constitution

India’s linguistic plurality is one of its defining features. The Constitution recognizes 22 scheduled languages and protects the right of every citizen to preserve and promote their mother tongue. Ghose highlighted this while criticizing “any act or policy that discriminates against a citizen on the basis of language,” as a violation of the spirit of federalism and constitutional equality.

She warned against a growing “soft apartheid” in some regions, where local languages are being imposed coercively in the name of cultural preservation, resulting in the alienation of migrants, especially those from West Bengal and the Northeast.

TMC’s Position: A Broader Fight for Linguistic Harmony

Ghose’s statements echo the broader narrative of the Trinamool Congress, which has consistently pitched itself as a defender of linguistic, cultural, and regional rights. The TMC leadership, including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, has regularly raised concerns about the marginalization of Bengali culture and language — both within and outside the state.

“We will not tolerate any form of linguistic or cultural fascism,” Ghose said. “Bengalis have contributed immensely to the freedom movement, to India’s literary, artistic, and political legacy. We will not be reduced to the ‘other’ in our own country.”

She clarified that the issue was not about one language versus another, but about ensuring inclusivity and mutual respect. “Promoting one’s language doesn’t mean suppressing others.”

Voices from the Ground

Many Bengalis living outside West Bengal have welcomed Ghose’s stand. Migrant workers in Bengaluru, who often speak Bangla at home and Hindi at work, report feeling increasingly unsafe or unwelcome when communicating in their native tongue.

“Recently, a landlord refused to rent a flat to us because we spoke in Bangla,” said Soumitra, a delivery executive from Nadia now working in Whitefield, Bengaluru. “He told us to learn Kannada or leave.”

Students in Pune, too, say they’re often ridiculed for their accents or mocked for using Bengali phrases in hostels and cafes. “Language should be a bridge, not a barrier,” said Riya Das, a student of biotechnology.

Critics and Political Reactions

However, not everyone sees Ghose’s remarks in the same light. Some regional leaders and commentators have accused her of fanning identity-based anxieties and trying to score political mileage. A few political rivals argued that every state has a right to promote its own language and that migrants must make an effort to integrate culturally.

Responding to these critiques, Ghose remarked, “Integration doesn’t mean assimilation. Diversity doesn’t demand dilution.”

Meanwhile, social media saw a flurry of activity, with hashtags like #SpeakBanglaFreely and #LinguisticJustice trending, especially in West Bengal and among diaspora communities in the Gulf and UK.

A History of Language Conflicts in India

India has had a long and complex history of language-based agitation, from the anti-Hindi movements in Tamil Nadu to the Assamese-Bengali tensions in the Northeast. While the Constitution tried to balance these competing linguistic identities through a three-language formula, tensions continue to flare up.

Ghose referred to these historical flashpoints while underlining the importance of resolving language conflicts through dialogue, not domination.

She pointed out that such hostility towards linguistic minorities creates “cultural ghettos, economic anxiety, and social fragmentation.” She called for state governments and the Centre to initiate confidence-building measures, including language inclusion programs, cultural exchange initiatives, and legal protection for linguistic minorities.

Looking Ahead: Policy or Posturing?

The real test now lies in whether this issue gains traction at the policy level. Ghose has urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture to audit cases of linguistic discrimination and consider forming a national commission for linguistic equity.

She also proposed the idea of regional language rights hotlines and state-wise ombudsman offices where linguistic minorities can report abuse or denial of services.

With general elections not too far off, it remains to be seen whether linguistic rights will find space in party manifestos — or whether the issue will fade amid larger electoral narratives.

 A Language of Dignity

Sagarika Ghose’s strong words strike a chord in a country whose greatest strength has always been its ability to accommodate and celebrate diversity. As India moves deeper into the 21st century, her warning serves as a crucial reminder: progress cannot come at the cost of plurality, and national unity cannot be forged by erasing mother tongues.

Whether the Centre and state governments heed this call — or whether this becomes another symbolic flash in the pan — will determine not just the future of Bengali-speaking migrants, but the very idea of India as a multicultural republic.