Assam Chief Minister Urges Non-Native Residents to Declare Assamese in Census
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed to residents who originated from other Indian states to list Assamese as their mother tongue in the ongoing Census. Speaking from the Khanapara Veterinary Ground around Independence Day, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of the exercise in shaping the region’s demographic records, specifically encouraging people whose families migrated from places such as Rajasthan to adopt Assamese for the official enumeration.
What Happened
During an address that coincided with the transition from the Census self-enumeration phase to house listing operations running from August 17 to September 15, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged non-native residents to report their primary language as Assamese. Describing these individuals as proud residents who settled in Assam despite coming from regions with different languages and cultures, Mr. Sarma underscored that upcoming planning will rely directly on the demographic data collected.
His appeal specifically exempted indigenous tribal communities—including Bodos, Karbis, and Misings—as well as residents of the predominantly Bengali-speaking Barak Valley, allowing them the discretion to record their own respective languages.
Key Highlights
- Call to Non-Native Settlers: The Chief Minister requested long-settled communities originating from states like Rajasthan to register Assamese as their mother tongue.
- Declining Language Share: Official records show people listing Assamese as their mother tongue fell from 59.53 percent in 1971 to 57.81 percent in 1991, 48.80 percent in 2001, and 48.38 percent in 2011.
- Rise in Other Languages: Over the same 1971 to 2011 period, the share of Bengali speakers increased from 19.7 percent to 28.91 percent, while Hindi speakers rose from 5.42 percent to 6.73 percent.
- Tribal and Regional Exceptions: Indigenous tribal groups and people in the Barak Valley were granted leeway to exercise their personal choice regarding language reporting.
- Historical Context of Assimilation: Bengali-origin Muslims, historically termed Na-Axomiyas, previously boosted Assamese-speaking numbers after adopting the language during earlier counts, helping the proportion rise from 31.42 percent in 1931 to 56.29 percent in 1951.
Why This Matters
The appeal directly responds to continuous shifts in Assam’s recorded linguistic balance. While migration patterns have historically driven population changes, recent decades have also seen tribal populations increasingly document their distinct native languages rather than identifying broadly under Assamese. Because linguistic and ethnic identities carry substantial political significance in Assam, demographic totals generated by the Census directly influence debates over native identity and representation.
What to Watch Next
Census field operations, covering house listing and housing enumeration, are scheduled to run through September 15. Observers will follow how language declarations evolve once data collation concludes ahead of official Census releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Assam Chief Minister make this appeal?
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued the request due to consecutive drops in the percentage of the state’s population reporting Assamese as their mother tongue in national decennial counts.
Are all communities expected to list Assamese?
No. The Chief Minister stated that indigenous tribal groups such as the Bodos, Karbis, and Misings, alongside residents in the Barak Valley, may exercise their own discretion in choosing what mother tongue to declare.
Source: Reporting based on an analysis published by The Hindu.