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{{Use Indian English|date=September 2025}} | |||
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This is a '''list of States and Union Territories of India by [[Bengali language|Bengali]] speakers''' at the time of the [[2011 Census of India|2011 Census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf|title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013)|publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India|access-date=13 November 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2016}}</ref> | This is a '''list of States and Union Territories of India by [[Bengali language|Bengali]] speakers''' at the time of the [[2011 Census of India|2011 Census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf|title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013)|publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India|access-date=13 November 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2016}}</ref> | ||
==2011 Census== | According to [[2011 census of India]], Bengali is the fifth fastest growing [[languages of India|language in India]], following [[Hindi]] in the first place, [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] in the second place, and [[Meitei language|Meitei]] ([[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]), along with [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], in the third place.<ref>—{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=What census data reveals about use of Indian languages |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/what-census-data-reveals-about-use-of-indian-languages-738340.html |access-date=16 November 2023 |website=[[Deccan Herald]] |language=en}}<br />—{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=28 June 2018 |title=Hindi Added 100Mn Speakers In A Decade; Kashmiri 2nd Fast Growing Language |url=https://www.indiaspend.com/hindi-added-100mn-speakers-in-a-decade-kashmiri-2nd-fast-growing-language-93096/ |access-date=16 November 2023 |website= |language=en}}<br />—{{Cite web |title=Hindi fastest growing language in India, finds 100 million new speakers |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/hindi-fastest-growing-language-in-india-finds-100-million-new-speakers-118070200029_1.html}}<br />—{{Cite magazine |last1=Mishra |first1=Mayank |last2=Aggarwal |first2=Piyush |date=11 April 2022 |title=Hindi grew rapidly in non-Hindi states even without official mandate |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/hindi-grows-in-non-hindi-states-without-official-mandate-1936196-2022-04-11 |magazine=[[India Today]] |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref> | ||
==2011 Census== | |||
{| class="sortable wikitable" | {| class="sortable wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 11: | Line 17: | ||
|align=center|78,698,852 | |align=center|78,698,852 | ||
|align=center|86.22% | |align=center|86.22% | ||
|- | |||
|[[Barak Valley|Barak Valley (Assam)]] | |||
| align='center' |2,930,378 | |||
| align='center' |80.84% | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Tripura]] | |[[Tripura]] | ||
|align=center| 2,414,774 | |align=center| 2,414,774 | ||
|align=center| | |align=center| 67.73% | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Assam]] | |[[Brahmaputra Valley|Brahmaputra Valley (Assam)]] | ||
|align=center| | | align='center' | 6,094,274 | ||
|align=center| | | align='center' |22.09% | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Andaman & Nicobar Islands]] | |[[Andaman & Nicobar Islands]] | ||
|align=center| 108,432 | |align=center| 108,432 | ||
|align=center| 28.49% | |align=center| 28.49% | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Jharkhand]] | |[[Jharkhand]] | ||
|align=center| 3,213,423 | |align=center| 3,213,423 | ||
|align=center| 9.73% | |align=center| 9.73% | ||
|- | |||
|[[Mizoram]] | |||
|align=center| 107,840 | |||
|align=center| 1.35% | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Meghalaya]] | |[[Meghalaya]] | ||
|align=center| 232,525 | |align=center| 232,525 | ||
|align=center| | |align=center| 6.44% | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Arunachal Pradesh]] | |[[Arunachal Pradesh]] | ||
|align=center| 100,579 | |align=center| 100,579 | ||
|align=center| | |align=center| 3.66% | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Nagaland]] | |[[Nagaland]] | ||
| Line 116: | Line 126: | ||
|align=center| 0.13% | |align=center| 0.13% | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Pondicherry]] | |[[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]] | ||
|align=center| 1,509 | |align=center| 1,509 | ||
|align=center| 0.12% | |align=center| 0.12% | ||
| Line 149: | Line 159: | ||
|-class="sortbottom" | |-class="sortbottom" | ||
|'''[[India]]''' | |'''[[India]]''' | ||
|''' | |'''9,82,37,669''' (First language speakers) | ||
|align=center|'''8. | |align=center|'''8.3%'''<ref name="Census of India"/>(Second most spoken in [[India]]) | ||
|} | |} | ||
==2001 Census== | ==2001 Census== | ||
{| class="sortable wikitable" | {| class="sortable wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 256: | Line 266: | ||
|align=center|0.14% | |align=center|0.14% | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Pondicherry]] | |[[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]] | ||
|align=center|1,180 | |align=center|1,180 | ||
|align=center|0.12% | |align=center|0.12% | ||
| Line 301: | Line 311: | ||
|-class="sortbottom" | |-class="sortbottom" | ||
|'''[[India]]''' | |'''[[India]]''' | ||
| | |'''8,77,37,669''' (First language speakers) | ||
|align=center|8.12%<ref name="Census of India"/> | |align=center|8.12%<ref name="Census of India"/> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 308: | Line 318: | ||
=== West Bengal === | === West Bengal === | ||
According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census, West Bengal is the fourth-most-populous state in India with a population of 91,347,736 (7.55% of India's population). [[Bengalis]], consisting of [[Bengali Hindus]], [[Bengali Muslims]], [[Bengali Christians]] and a few [[Bengali Buddhists]], numbering around 78,698,852 comprise about 86.22% of the state population. West Bengal was created as a homeland of Bengali | According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census, West Bengal is the fourth-most-populous state in India with a population of 91,347,736 (7.55% of India's population). [[Bengalis]], consisting of [[Bengali Hindus]], [[Bengali Muslims]], [[Bengali Christians]] and a few [[Bengali Buddhists]], numbering around 78,698,852 comprise about 86.22% of the state population. West Bengal was created as a homeland of [[Ghotis|Bengali Hindus]] in 1947.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/opinion-why-a-united-bengal-in-1947-wouldnt-have-worked-out | title=Opinion: Why a United Bengal in 1947 wouldn't have worked out }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=C-16 POPULATION BY MOTHER TONGUE |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1900.XLSX |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708051209/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1900.XLSX |archive-date=8 July 2018 |access-date=4 November 2023 |website=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |format=XLSX}}</ref> | ||
=== Tripura === | === Tripura === | ||
The non-tribal population of Tripura, the mostly Bengali-speaking Hindus and Muslims, constitute more than two-thirds of the state's population. The resident and the migrant Bengali population benefitted from the culture and language of the [[Manikya dynasty|royal house of Tripura]] thanks to embracement of Hinduism and adoption of Bengali as the state language by the Maharajahs of Tripura much before [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian independence]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dikshit |first1=K. R. |last2=Dikshit |first2=Jutta K. |title=North-East India: Land, People and Economy |date=21 October 2013 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-94-007-7055-3 |page=352 |url=https:// | The non-tribal population of Tripura, the mostly Bengali-speaking Hindus and Muslims, constitute more than two-thirds of the state's population. The resident and the migrant Bengali population benefitted from the culture and language of the [[Manikya dynasty|royal house of Tripura]] thanks to embracement of Hinduism and adoption of Bengali as the state language by the Maharajahs of Tripura much before [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian independence]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dikshit |first1=K. R. |last2=Dikshit |first2=Jutta K. |title=North-East India: Land, People and Economy |date=21 October 2013 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-94-007-7055-3 |page=352 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iorHBAAAQBAJ&dq=The+Manikya+kings+adopted+Bengali+culture&pg=PA352 |language=en}}</ref> After the Partition of India and Tripura's accession to the [[Dominion of India]], thousands of Bengali Hindus from eastern Bengal took refuge in Tripura. The influx of the Bengali Hindus increased during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]], when of Bengali Hindus were massacred in Bangladesh by the [[Pakistan Army|Pakistani occupation army]]. At present there are around 2.2 million Bengali Hindus in Tripura, making them the largest ethnic group in the state, constituting over 60% of the total population.<ref>{{cite news |title=BJP eyes 2.2 m Bengali Hindus in Tripura quest |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2017/sunday-edition/bjp-eyes-22-m-bengali-hindus-in-tripura-quest.html |work=The Pioneer |date=14 May 2017}}</ref> | ||
===Assam=== | ===Assam=== | ||
A “language reversion” has been going on among [[Muslim]]s who once migrated from erstwhile East Bengal. After Partition, the Brahmaputra valley Muslim migrants of [[East Bengal]]i roots chose to report their language as Assamese. As a result, between 1931 and 1951, the population of Assamese speakers in Assam (excluding [[Sylhet | A “language reversion” has been going on among [[Muslim]]s who once migrated from erstwhile East Bengal. After Partition, the Brahmaputra valley Muslim migrants of [[East Bengal]]i roots chose to report their language as Assamese. As a result, between 1931 and 1951, the population of Assamese speakers in Assam (excluding [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet]]) rose by a phenomenal 150%. The Partition violence may have played a part in this decision. The apprehension of being persecuted in the newly independent country made the migrants give up language and keep religion. As a mirror image of the quick rise in the Assamese speaking population, during 1931-1951 the population of Bengali speakers fell by as much as 25%. It is conjectured that of late, the [[Miya people|Na-Axamiyas]] (the new Assamese) have been switching back to Bengali. This curious phenomenon was behind the [[Assam Movement]] (1979-1985) according to political scientist [[Myron Weiner]]. The relative calm of the last few decades since the conclusion of the movement may have given the migrants the confidence to report Bengali. The rise in the share of Bengalis could be due to Na-Axamiyas reverting to Bengali.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/assam-accord-nrc-bengali-assamese/amp | title=In Assam, Rising Share of Bengali Speakers Doesn t Necessarily Point to Infiltration }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/caa-protests-in-assam-why-it-is-different-from-the-rest-of-the-country/articleshow/72844673.cms | title=CAA protests in Assam: Why it is different from the rest of the country | newspaper=The Economic Times | last1=Bhattacharya | first1=D. P. }}</ref><ref name="scroll.in">{{cite web | url=https://scroll.in/article/926022/assam-drive-urging-bengali-muslims-not-to-list-assamese-as-mother-tongue-could-become-explosive | title=In Assam, campaign urging Bengali Muslims not to list Assamese as mother tongue has sparked protests | date=9 June 2019 }}</ref> In 1931, the population of Assamese speakers in the region was 1.74 million- which constituted 31.42% of the total population while by 1951, it turned into 4.55 million, constituting 56.69% of the population.<ref name=chubra>Chubbra K. M. L, Assam Challenge, Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd, Delhi, 1992.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/sa/sa_may01kod01.html | title=Insurgency in Assam: The Demographic Dimensions }}</ref><ref name="scroll.in"/> According to 2011 census, Assam has around 31,205,576 people living in the state.<ref>"Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India"</ref> Language census report tells that [[Assam]] has around 48.38% Assamese and 28.92% Bengali speakers as per 2011 census.<ref>{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref> | ||
===Andaman and Nicobar islands=== | ===Andaman and Nicobar islands=== | ||
There is also a significant number of Bengali Hindus residing in the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], estimated approximately 100,000 comprising 26%–28% of the population. Bengali is also the most widely spoken language in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, despite it lacking official status.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andaman|first=Team Explore|title=Andaman Nicobar population - a description|url=http://www.exploreandaman.com/population-colonisation-andaman-nicobar-islands.php|access-date=2021 | There is also a significant number of Bengali Hindus residing in the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], estimated approximately 100,000 comprising 26%–28% of the population. Bengali is also the most widely spoken language in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, despite it lacking official status.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andaman|first=Team Explore|title=Andaman Nicobar population - a description|url=http://www.exploreandaman.com/population-colonisation-andaman-nicobar-islands.php|access-date=22 April 2021|website=Population mix of Andaman and Nicobar|language=en}}</ref> | ||
== Other significant areas == | == Other significant areas == | ||
=== Uttarakhand === | === Uttarakhand === | ||
There are large number of Bengali speaking population mainly centered around [[Udham Singh Nagar district]] of Uttarakhand. Much of the population reached here as a result of migration during 1970's. The Bengali speakers are primarily engaged in farming and industrial activities.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Kautilya|title=What's this Bengali doing in Uttarakhand poll pitch?|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/whats-this-bengali-doing-in-uttarakhand-poll-pitch/articleshow/57016997.cms | There are large number of Bengali speaking population mainly centered around [[Udham Singh Nagar district]] of Uttarakhand. Much of the population reached here as a result of migration during 1970's. The Bengali speakers are primarily engaged in farming and industrial activities.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Kautilya|title=What's this Bengali doing in Uttarakhand poll pitch?|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/whats-this-bengali-doing-in-uttarakhand-poll-pitch/articleshow/57016997.cms|access-date=6 August 2021}}</ref> | ||
=== Kerala === | === Kerala === | ||
There is steady migration of Bengali speaking population from [[Assam]] and [[West Bengal]] towards southern state of Kerala as migrant labourers. As of 2020, Bengali speakers constitute a large proportion of [[Migrant labourers in Kerala]]. Most of the Bengali speakers are working as footloose labourers and only a few consider permanent settlement. The major chunk of Bengali speaking populace is concentrated in [[Ernakulam district]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Bibin Babu|date=May | There is steady migration of Bengali speaking population from [[Assam]] and [[West Bengal]] towards southern state of Kerala as migrant labourers. As of 2020, Bengali speakers constitute a large proportion of [[Migrant labourers in Kerala]]. Most of the Bengali speakers are working as footloose labourers and only a few consider permanent settlement. The major chunk of Bengali speaking populace is concentrated in [[Ernakulam district]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Bibin Babu|date=3 May 2016|title=Perumbavoor: A mini North India in Kerala {{!}} Kochi News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/perumbavoor-a-mini-north-india-in-kerala/articleshow/52055285.cms|access-date=6 August 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Menon|first=Sreelatha|date=27 July 2011|title=Kerala, a 'Dubai' for Bengali migrants|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/kerala-a-dubai-for-bengali-migrants-111072700087_1.html|access-date=6 August 2021}}</ref> | ||
=== Chhattisgarh === | === Chhattisgarh === | ||
In southern Chhattisgarh, especially in [[Bastar district|Bastar]] region there is significant Bengali speaking population. Most of these settlers have reached there as a result of [[Dandakaranya Project]] following the [[Partition of India]].<ref>{{Cite news| | In southern Chhattisgarh, especially in [[Bastar district|Bastar]] region there is significant Bengali speaking population. Most of these settlers have reached there as a result of [[Dandakaranya Project]] following the [[Partition of India]].<ref>{{Cite news|agency=PTI|date=19 January 2020|title=NCST to ask Chhattisgarh to probe if refugee resettlement led to demographic changes in tribal areas|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ncst-to-ask-chhattisgarh-to-probe-if-refugee-resettlement-led-to-demographic-changes-in-tribal-areas/article30600100.ece|access-date=6 August 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Bagchi|first=Suvojit|date=9 November 2018|title=Congress parachutes Bengali leaders to campaign in southern Chhattisgarh|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/chhattisgarh-assembly-elections-2018/congress-parachutes-bengali-leaders-to-campaign-in-southern-chhattisgarh/article25457206.ece|access-date=6 August 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> | ||
== See also == | |||
* [[States of India by Kashmiri speakers]] | |||
* [[List of states and union territories of India by Punjabi speakers]] | |||
* [[States of India by Sindhi speakers]] | |||
* [[States of India by Kannada speakers]] | |||
* [[States of India by Meitei speakers]] | |||
* [[States of India by Tamil speakers]] | |||
* [[States of India by Telugu speakers]] | |||
* [[States of India by Urdu speakers]] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
| Line 336: | Line 356: | ||
[[Category:Lists of states of India by number of speakers of the languages|B]] | [[Category:Lists of states of India by number of speakers of the languages|B]] | ||
[[Category:Bengali people | [[Category:Lists of Bengali people|*]] | ||
[[Category:Bengali language-related lists]] | [[Category:Bengali language-related lists]] | ||
[[Category:West Bengal-related lists|Tamil speakers]] | [[Category:West Bengal-related lists|Tamil speakers]] | ||
[[Category:Bengali language in India]] | |||
Latest revision as of 00:07, 2 September 2025
This is a list of States and Union Territories of India by Bengali speakers at the time of the 2011 Census.[1]
According to 2011 census of India, Bengali is the fifth fastest growing language in India, following Hindi in the first place, Kashmiri in the second place, and Meitei (Manipuri), along with Gujarati, in the third place.[2]
2011 Census[edit | edit source]
| State / Union Territory | Bengali speakers[3] | Percentage of population speaking Bengali[4] |
|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | 78,698,852 | 86.22% |
| Barak Valley (Assam) | 2,930,378 | 80.84% |
| Tripura | 2,414,774 | 67.73% |
| Brahmaputra Valley (Assam) | 6,094,274 | 22.09% |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 108,432 | 28.49% |
| Jharkhand | 3,213,423 | 9.73% |
| Mizoram | 107,840 | 1.35% |
| Meghalaya | 232,525 | 6.44% |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 100,579 | 3.66% |
| Nagaland | 74,753 | 3.78% |
| Daman & Diu | 5,232 | 2.15% |
| Uttarakhand | 150,933 | 1.50% |
| Delhi | 215,960 | 1.29% |
| Odisha | 504,570 | 1.20% |
| Sikkim | 6,986 | 1.14% |
| Manipur | 30,611 | 1.07% |
| Chhattisgarh | 243,597 | 0.95% |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | 3,116 | 0.91% |
| Bihar | 810,771 | 0.78% |
| Chandigarh | 6,236 | 0.59% |
| Goa | 7,099 | 0.49% |
| Maharashtra | 442,090 | 0.39% |
| Haryana | 70,948 | 0.28% |
| Lakshadweep | 1,509 | 0.22% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 109,185 | 0.15% |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 19,830 | 0.16% |
| Karnataka | 87,963 | 0.14% |
| Gujarat | 79,648 | 0.13% |
| Pondicherry | 1,509 | 0.12% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 241,007 | 0.12% |
| Rajasthan | 81,658 | 0.12% |
| Punjab | 27,030 | 0.10% |
| Himachal Pradesh | 6,214 | 0.09% |
| Kerala | 29,061 | 0.09% |
| Andhra Pradesh | 57,804 | 0.07% |
| Tamil Nadu | 22,969 | 0.03% |
| India | 9,82,37,669 (First language speakers) | 8.3%[5](Second most spoken in India) |
2001 Census[edit | edit source]
| State / Union Territory | Bengali speakers[6] | Percentage of population speaking Bengali [5] |
|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | 68,369,255 | 85.34% |
| Tripura | 2,147,944 | 67.14% |
| Assam | 7,343,338 | 27.55% |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 91,582 | 25.71% |
| Jharkhand | 2,607,601 | 9.68% |
| Mizoram | 80,389 | 9.05% |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 97,149 | 8.85% |
| Meghalaya | 185,692 | 8.01% |
| Nagaland | 58,890 | 2.96% |
| Delhi | 208,414 | 1.50% |
| Uttarakhand | 123,190 | 1.45% |
| Odisha | 490,857 | 1.33% |
| Manipur | 27,100 | 1.25% |
| Sikkim | 6,320 | 1.18% |
| Daman & Diu | 1,810 | 1.16% |
| Chhattisgarh | 208,669 | 1.00% |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | 1,382 | 0.63% |
| Chandigarh | 5,491 | 0.61% |
| Bihar | 443,425 | 0.53% |
| Maharashtra | 310,137 | 0.32% |
| Goa | 4,111 | 0.31% |
| Haryana | 39,199 | 0.19% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 105,399 | 0.17% |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 14,416 | 0.14% |
| Pondicherry | 1,180 | 0.12% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 181,634 | 0.11% |
| Rajasthan | 54,172 | 0.10% |
| Gujarat | 40,780 | 0.08% |
| Himachal Pradesh | 4,772 | 0.08% |
| Karnataka | 41,256 | 0.08% |
| Punjab | 20,655 | 0.08% |
| Andhra Pradesh | 41,293 | 0.05% |
| Lakshadweep | 24 | 0.05% |
| Kerala | 3,387 | 0.01% |
| Tamil Nadu | 8,805 | 0.01% |
| India | 8,77,37,669 (First language speakers) | 8.12%[5] |
Bengali majority states of India[edit | edit source]
West Bengal[edit | edit source]
According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census, West Bengal is the fourth-most-populous state in India with a population of 91,347,736 (7.55% of India's population). Bengalis, consisting of Bengali Hindus, Bengali Muslims, Bengali Christians and a few Bengali Buddhists, numbering around 78,698,852 comprise about 86.22% of the state population. West Bengal was created as a homeland of Bengali Hindus in 1947.[7][8]
Tripura[edit | edit source]
The non-tribal population of Tripura, the mostly Bengali-speaking Hindus and Muslims, constitute more than two-thirds of the state's population. The resident and the migrant Bengali population benefitted from the culture and language of the royal house of Tripura thanks to embracement of Hinduism and adoption of Bengali as the state language by the Maharajahs of Tripura much before Indian independence.[9] After the Partition of India and Tripura's accession to the Dominion of India, thousands of Bengali Hindus from eastern Bengal took refuge in Tripura. The influx of the Bengali Hindus increased during the Bangladesh Liberation War, when of Bengali Hindus were massacred in Bangladesh by the Pakistani occupation army. At present there are around 2.2 million Bengali Hindus in Tripura, making them the largest ethnic group in the state, constituting over 60% of the total population.[10]
Assam[edit | edit source]
A “language reversion” has been going on among Muslims who once migrated from erstwhile East Bengal. After Partition, the Brahmaputra valley Muslim migrants of East Bengali roots chose to report their language as Assamese. As a result, between 1931 and 1951, the population of Assamese speakers in Assam (excluding Sylhet) rose by a phenomenal 150%. The Partition violence may have played a part in this decision. The apprehension of being persecuted in the newly independent country made the migrants give up language and keep religion. As a mirror image of the quick rise in the Assamese speaking population, during 1931-1951 the population of Bengali speakers fell by as much as 25%. It is conjectured that of late, the Na-Axamiyas (the new Assamese) have been switching back to Bengali. This curious phenomenon was behind the Assam Movement (1979-1985) according to political scientist Myron Weiner. The relative calm of the last few decades since the conclusion of the movement may have given the migrants the confidence to report Bengali. The rise in the share of Bengalis could be due to Na-Axamiyas reverting to Bengali.[11][12][13] In 1931, the population of Assamese speakers in the region was 1.74 million- which constituted 31.42% of the total population while by 1951, it turned into 4.55 million, constituting 56.69% of the population.[14][15][13] According to 2011 census, Assam has around 31,205,576 people living in the state.[16] Language census report tells that Assam has around 48.38% Assamese and 28.92% Bengali speakers as per 2011 census.[17]
Andaman and Nicobar islands[edit | edit source]
There is also a significant number of Bengali Hindus residing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, estimated approximately 100,000 comprising 26%–28% of the population. Bengali is also the most widely spoken language in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, despite it lacking official status.[18]
Other significant areas[edit | edit source]
Uttarakhand[edit | edit source]
There are large number of Bengali speaking population mainly centered around Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. Much of the population reached here as a result of migration during 1970's. The Bengali speakers are primarily engaged in farming and industrial activities.[19]
Kerala[edit | edit source]
There is steady migration of Bengali speaking population from Assam and West Bengal towards southern state of Kerala as migrant labourers. As of 2020, Bengali speakers constitute a large proportion of Migrant labourers in Kerala. Most of the Bengali speakers are working as footloose labourers and only a few consider permanent settlement. The major chunk of Bengali speaking populace is concentrated in Ernakulam district.[20][21]
Chhattisgarh[edit | edit source]
In southern Chhattisgarh, especially in Bastar region there is significant Bengali speaking population. Most of these settlers have reached there as a result of Dandakaranya Project following the Partition of India.[22][23]
See also[edit | edit source]
- States of India by Kashmiri speakers
- List of states and union territories of India by Punjabi speakers
- States of India by Sindhi speakers
- States of India by Kannada speakers
- States of India by Meitei speakers
- States of India by Tamil speakers
- States of India by Telugu speakers
- States of India by Urdu speakers
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013)" (PDF). Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ↑ —"What census data reveals about use of Indian languages". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
—"Hindi Added 100Mn Speakers In A Decade; Kashmiri 2nd Fast Growing Language". 28 June 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
—"Hindi fastest growing language in India, finds 100 million new speakers".
—Mishra, Mayank; Aggarwal, Piyush (11 April 2022). "Hindi grew rapidly in non-Hindi states even without official mandate". India Today. Retrieved 16 November 2023. - ↑ "Distribution of the 22 Scheduled Languages – India, States & Union Territories – 2011 Census" (PDF). Government of India.
- ↑ "Census of India - Distribution of 10,000 persons by language – India, States and Union Territories-2011". Government of India.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Census of India - Distribution of 10,000 persons by language – India, States and Union Territories-2001".
- ↑ "Distribution of the 22 Scheduled Languages – India, States & Union Territories – 2001 Census".
- ↑ "Opinion: Why a United Bengal in 1947 wouldn't have worked out".
- ↑ "C-16 POPULATION BY MOTHER TONGUE". Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Archived from the original (XLSX) on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ↑ Dikshit, K. R.; Dikshit, Jutta K. (21 October 2013). North-East India: Land, People and Economy. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 352. ISBN 978-94-007-7055-3.
- ↑ "BJP eyes 2.2 m Bengali Hindus in Tripura quest". The Pioneer. 14 May 2017.
- ↑ "In Assam, Rising Share of Bengali Speakers Doesn t Necessarily Point to Infiltration".
- ↑ Bhattacharya, D. P. "CAA protests in Assam: Why it is different from the rest of the country". The Economic Times.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "In Assam, campaign urging Bengali Muslims not to list Assamese as mother tongue has sparked protests". 9 June 2019.
- ↑ Chubbra K. M. L, Assam Challenge, Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd, Delhi, 1992.
- ↑ "Insurgency in Assam: The Demographic Dimensions".
- ↑ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India"
- ↑ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ↑ Andaman, Team Explore. "Andaman Nicobar population - a description". Population mix of Andaman and Nicobar. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ↑ Singh, Kautilya. "What's this Bengali doing in Uttarakhand poll pitch?". The Economic Times. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ↑ Bibin Babu (3 May 2016). "Perumbavoor: A mini North India in Kerala | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ↑ Menon, Sreelatha (27 July 2011). "Kerala, a 'Dubai' for Bengali migrants". Business Standard India. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ↑ "NCST to ask Chhattisgarh to probe if refugee resettlement led to demographic changes in tribal areas". The Hindu. PTI. 19 January 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ↑ Bagchi, Suvojit (9 November 2018). "Congress parachutes Bengali leaders to campaign in southern Chhattisgarh". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 August 2021.