The Language Movement in Pakistan (1948-1952)

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of the population of Pakistan spoke Punjabi at the time of partition?

5.47%

3.48%

28.55% (correct)

67.08%

Which language was predominantly spoken in East Pakistan according to the linguistic demography?

Baluchi

Urdu

Bengali (correct)

Punjabi

What was the main proposal of the Bengal Provincial Muslim League in 1946?

Establish English as a mandatory language

Promote Bengali as the state language (correct)

Develop a bilingual education system

Make Urdu the state language

Which prominent figure advocated for Urdu as the state language shortly after partition?

Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Signup and view all the answers

What language did the ruling elite group of West Pakistan attempt to establish as the sole state language?

Urdu Signup and view all the answers

Which languages were proposed at the national education summit in Karachi in November 1947?

Urdu and English Signup and view all the answers

What was the common language spoken by only 3.27% of the population of Pakistan?

Urdu Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant issue causing contention between the two parts of Pakistan?

State language selection Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the immediate actions taken by the conference regarding government stationery in East Bengal?

Removal of Bangla. Signup and view all the answers

Which language was NOT included in the list of approved subjects by the Pakistan Public Service Commission?

Bengali Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the time when Bengali was denied recognition?

Liaquat Ali Khan Signup and view all the answers

Which movement did students in East Bengal initiate in response to the language policy?

Language Movement Signup and view all the answers

Who succeeded Liaquat Ali Khan as Prime Minister of Pakistan?

Khwaja Nazimuddin Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the Language Movement by 1952?

Bengali was accepted as a state language. Signup and view all the answers

What sentiment was growing among the people of East Pakistan by the start of 1952?

Distrust towards the government Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan after independence?

Liaquat Ali Khan Signup and view all the answers

Who served as the general secretary of the Awami Muslim League when it was formed?

Shamsul Hoque Signup and view all the answers

What significant event took place on 9 May 1954 regarding the recognition of Bangla?

Bangla was recognized as one of the state languages of Pakistan. Signup and view all the answers

Who headed the National Education Commission formed by Ayub Khan?

S.M. Sharif Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the 21-point program declared by the Jukto Front?

To serve as the party's manifesto for the elections Signup and view all the answers

When was the interim report of the Sharif Commission submitted?

26 August 1959 Signup and view all the answers

What action did Dhaka College students announce on 10 August?

A general strike throughout the province Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the major outcomes of the Language Movement in 1952?

The acceleration of the liberation struggle of the nation Signup and view all the answers

Which date is commemorated as the International Mother Language Day?

21 February Signup and view all the answers

Which type of protest was included in the agitation against the Sharif Commission Report?

Hunger strikes Signup and view all the answers

What sparked outrage during the student procession on Abdul Gani Road?

Police firing on the procession Signup and view all the answers

In what year was the first Constitution of Pakistan passed that recognized Bangla as a State Language?

1956 Signup and view all the answers

What contributed to the establishment of the national identity and self-dignity of the Bengalis during the Language Movement?

The events of the Language Movement in 1952 Signup and view all the answers

What was the ultimate outcome of the student movement against the Sharif Commission Report?

The government postponed the implementation of the report Signup and view all the answers

How did the number of primary schools in East Pakistan change from 1947-48 to 1954-55?

Decreased from 29,633 to 26,000 Signup and view all the answers

Which group was notably involved in the student protests alongside students?

Workers from mills and factories Signup and view all the answers

How many members were in the Sharif Commission, and how many were educationists from East Pakistan?

11 members, 4 from East Pakistan Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Language Movement (1948-1952)

Pakistan was established in 1947, separated geographically and culturally.
The two regions had large linguistic differences, with Bengali spoken by 56.40% of the population and Urdu spoken by only 3.27%.
The ruling West Pakistani elite pushed for Urdu as the sole state language, despite Bengali being the majority language.
The Bengali language movement began with advocacy for Bengali as a state language in 1946 and 1947, but faced opposition from prominent figures like Dr Ziauddin Ahmed who advocated for Urdu.
In 1947, the first Pakistan Education Conference in Karachi advocated for Urdu and English as official languages, removing Bengali from all government documents leading to protests and demonstrations in East Bengal.
The Pakistan Public Service Commission also excluded Bengali from the list of approved subjects for national exams.
Despite the efforts of the ruling elite, the Bengali Language Movement gained momentum through protests and demonstrations.
The movement saw two waves of protest. The first wave focused on advocacy and educational reform, while the second wave escalated with political and social activism.
After the death of Liaquat Ali Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and the rise of Khwaja Nazimuddin, the people of East Pakistan grew disillusioned with the Muslim League and began to lose faith.
In 1949, the Awami Muslim League was formed with Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani as the leader.
In 1953, the Jukto Front was formed, a coalition of parties including the Awami Muslim League, advocating for Bengali as a state language. The Jukto Front's electoral success in 1954 led to the recognition of Bengali as one of the state languages of Pakistan.
In 1956, the first Constitution of Pakistan was passed, officially recognizing Bengali as a state language.

The Role of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the Language Movement

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman played a significant role in the Language Movement.
His contributions are not detailed in the text.

The Contribution of the Language Movement in Subsequent Struggles

The Language Movement established a sense of national identity and self-worth for the Bengalis.
February 21st, the anniversary of the Language Movement, has been recognised globally as International Mother Language Day.
The movement built trust and cooperation between the people and political activists, creating momentum for the future liberation struggle.
It served as a stepping stone to the achievements of other rights, including the education movement in 1962, the six-point movement, the mass uprising in 1969, the 1970 election, and the liberation struggle of 1971.

The Education Movement of 1962

Since the creation of Pakistan, the education sector in East Pakistan faced neglect leading to a decrease in the number of educational institutions and an increase in the dropout rate.
In 1959, the Ayub Khan regime established a National Education Commission, headed by S. M. Sharif, with only four out of eleven members representing East Pakistan.
The Sharpe Commission Report, released in 1962, suggested changes to the education system that were widely criticized by students in East Pakistan.
Students staged protests and demonstrations against the report, with notable events happening at Dhaka College, the Medical School, and National Medical Institutes.
The movement led to large-scale strikes and demonstrations, leading to the death of a high school student.
The protests resulted in the government's postponement of the implementation of the Sharif Commission report.

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Description

Explore the historical context and significance of the Bengali Language Movement in Pakistan from 1948 to 1952. This quiz covers the linguistic tensions, political advocacy, and the struggle for recognition of Bengali amidst a push for Urdu as the sole state language. Test your knowledge on key events and figures that shaped this critical period in Pakistan's history.