Nobel laureate and world-renowned economist Amartya Sen has voiced serious concerns over what he termed a climate of “linguistic intolerance” in India, particularly targeting Bengali-speaking communities.
Speaking at a public discussion in Kolkata on Saturday, the 91-year-old intellectual referenced recent media reports of Bengali-speaking individuals being harassed and even “pushed to Bangladesh” on suspicion of being outsiders.
“I saw in the newspaper that someone was sent to Bangladesh because he was speaking in Bengali. It made me a bit worried,” Sen remarked, adding with his characteristic wit, “I decided to speak in French, but the only problem is I do not know French.”
The economist went further, drawing attention to his own roots in Dhaka. “There remains a possibility that I might be sent back to Bangladesh because my ancestral home is in Dhaka. And I do not have much objection to that,” he quipped.
Bengali Identity Under Pressure
When asked about the reported harassment of Bengalis in states governed by the BJP, Sen underscored the pluralistic nature of Indian civilisation. “Every cultural identity, including Bengali and Punjabi, has reasons to be celebrated,” he said, stressing that attempts to marginalise linguistic or cultural groups undermine the very foundation of India’s diversity.
Sen also warned that Bengali-speaking individuals are not only facing everyday disrespect but also professional hurdles due to prejudice. “I am not claiming that the Bengali culture and civilisation are the best,” he said, “but we must highlight their history. There must be respect for Bengali culture. If not, there needs to be protests.”
A Broader Context
The remarks come at a time when reports of linguistic profiling and discrimination against Bengali speakers have been emerging from multiple states, sparking fears of identity-based exclusion. For many, Sen’s comments highlight a troubling contradiction between India’s constitutional promise of unity in diversity and the lived experiences of minority language speakers.
While delivered with humour, Sen’s words carried a sharp warning: intolerance towards language and culture, if left unchecked, risks deepening social divides.
