Lesson 1/54 min
Where it began (1947–1948)
Thursday, 21 February 1952. Section 144 is in force in Dhaka and all gatherings are banned. The students face one question: obey, or break it? They broke it. But the story had begun five years earlier.
Pakistan was created in 1947. Most of its people spoke Bangla as their mother tongue, yet the plan was to make Urdu the state language.
The first organisation: Tamaddun Majlish
- Founded: 1 September 1947, at Azimpur, Dhaka
- Founder: Professor Abul Kashem of Dhaka University
- First booklet: “Pakistan's State Language: Bangla or Urdu”, published 15 September 1947
- Its three authors: Professor Abul Kashem, Dr. Kazi Motahar Hossain and Abul Mansur Ahmad
- The first State Language Action Committee was formed in 1947; convener Nurul Huq Bhuiyan
Did you know?: Dhirendranath Datta told the Constituent Assembly that 44 million of Pakistan's 69 million people spoke Bangla as their mother tongue.
1948: the first clash
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 23 February 1948 | In the Constituent Assembly at Karachi, Dhirendranath Datta of Cumilla demands Bangla as a state language |
| 2 March 1948 | The Action Committee is re-formed; convener Shamsul Alam |
| 11 March 1948 | The first general strike demanding Bangla as a state language |
| 21 March 1948 | At the Racecourse ground in Dhaka, Jinnah declares that Urdu alone will be the state language |
| 24 March 1948 | Jinnah repeats it at the Dhaka University convocation in Curzon Hall; the students protest |
Memory trick: From 1948 to 1952, “Language Day” was 11 March. 21 February came only after 1952.
Check yourself
Who first raised the demand for Bangla in the Constituent Assembly?
At a glance
- 1
The first organisation of the Language Movement was Tamaddun Majlish, founded on 1 September 1947 by Professor Abul Kashem.
- 2
Dhirendranath Datta raised the demand for Bangla in the Constituent Assembly on 23 February 1948.
- 3
The first general strike demanding Bangla as a state language was held on 11 March 1948.
- 4
Jinnah's declarations: 21 March 1948 at the Racecourse ground, 24 March 1948 at Curzon Hall.