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Language Row

Confrontation in Kolkata Metro over language and identity | Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X handle

West Bengal is in India, you must speak in Hindi: Woman in Kolkata Metro tells co-passenger stirring row

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Nov 24, 2024, at 01:39 pm

#KolkataMetro #WestBengal #Hindi #Bengali #Bangladesh #LanguageDebate

Kolkata/IBNS: A major scuffle broke out in the Kolkata Metro recently after two women got engaged in a debate over language and identity.

In a video which went viral on social media, a young woman was seeking a co-passenger to speak in Hindi and not Bengali citing West Bengal is in India.

"You are not in Bangladesh. You are in India. West Bengal is a part of India. You must speak in Hindi," the woman was heard saying.

"How could you not know Hindi while staying in India? Hindi is the language of India," she added and also threatened the co-passenger with a legal case for video recording her.

Again a Hindian attack on a Bengali. This Hindian lady racially abusing her as 'Bangladeshi'. The same propaganda that living in India you have to speak in Hindi or get branded as 'anti-national'. It's time one should make a law against Hindi imposition in non-Hindi states. pic.twitter.com/MCCUekuOfP
— Bengali Nationalist (@MoinakBanerjee5) November 19, 2024

In response, the other woman said, "No I don't know Hindi. I live in Bengal and speak in Bengali."

She added, "How could she call me Bangladeshi for speaking in Bengali! She is insulting me on my own soil!"

In the middle of the scuffle, a man, who was not in the frame, was even heard slamming the first woman for speaking in English in India.

"You are a Hindustani then why are you speaking in English," the man said in a strong rebuttal.

The incident has diverse opinions on social media.

While some support the woman backing Hindi language, others slam the objection to the Bengali language.

Strictly going by the Constitution, India has no designated national language.

As of 2024, 22 languages including Bengali have been recognised under the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India.

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