Amartya Sen concerned over growing linguistic intolerance in India

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has raised concerns over what he described as growing linguistic intolerance in India, particularly towards Bengali-speaking people.

Speaking at a public discussion on Friday, the 91-year-old economist referred to media reports of Bengali speakers in West Bengal being pushed across the border to Bangladesh on suspicion of their origins.

“I saw in the newspaper that someone was sent to Bangladesh because he was speaking in Bengali. It made me a bit worried,” The Telegraph India quoted him as saying.

With a touch of humour, Sen added that he briefly considered switching languages. “I decided to speak in French but the only problem is I do not know French.”

Sen, who was born in Shantiniketan but whose ancestral home is in Dhaka, then quipped: “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.”

Responding to questions from reporters later, he stressed the need to celebrate India’s cultural diversity and warned against disrespect or discrimination towards Bengali speakers.

“People from Bengal or the Bengali-speaking people are facing professional obstacles and are being disrespected,” he said.

“I am not claiming that the Bengali culture and civilisation are the best, but we must highlight the history of the Bengali language, culture and civilisation. There must be respect for Bengali culture. If not, there needs to be protests.”