Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday appealed to people from other parts of the country who have made the state their home to list ‘Assamese’ as their mother tongue during the Census. He made the appeal amid concerns over a decline in the number of Assamese speakers in the state in previous Census counts.
At the same time, Sarma said people in the Bengali-speaking Barak Valley and members of tribal communities should use their own discretion and mention their own languages as their mother tongue. He said the Census, which has begun in the state, will shape future planning for the country and called on people to take part in it.
Addressing the Independence Day function after hoisting the National Flag, Sarma said, “The year 2026 is an important one as the Census process has started. On the basis of data collected, the future of the country will be planned. It is our duty and responsibility to participate and make it successful.”
He said that during the data collection process, people of Barak Valley and the tribals can mention their own languages as their mother tongue.
“In Barak Valley, people will use their own conscience while mentioning their mother tongue. Bodos, Rabhas, Tiwas, Misings, others will also mention their own languages. Assam wants development of all local languages. Our tribal languages are as invaluable as the Assamese language, and it is our responsibility to conserve them,” Sarma said.
He then appealed to those outside these groups to identify Assamese as their mother tongue. “But besides the tribals and Barak Valley population, the proud Assamese individuals who had at some point of time come from Rajasthan or some other place with a different language and culture, I request them to mention ‘Assamese’ as their mother tongue,” he added.
According to Census data, 59.53 per cent of Assam’s population identified Assamese as their mother tongue in 1971. The share fell to 48.80 per cent in 2001 and 48.38 per cent in 2011, and it is believed to have declined further since then.
Experts have said that infiltration, migration from other parts of the country, and more indigenous communities listing their own languages instead of Assamese are among the reasons for the gradual fall.
During the same period, the share of Bengali speakers rose from 27.53 per cent in 2001 to 28.91 per cent in 2011, while Hindi speakers increased from 5.89 per cent to 6.73 per cent.
In Assam, self-enumeration began on August 2 and will continue till August 16. House-listing operations and the housing Census will be carried out from August 17 to September 15. The process has been postponed in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts, which have been badly affected by floods this year.
Sarma’s appeal comes as Assam begins the Census process, with the state government urging wider participation while saying tribal communities and people in Barak Valley are free to record their own mother tongues.
– Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 15, 2026 21:37 IST
