The Case for the Sylheti Language

By Yameen Subhan Rahman, BA International Relations and Law 28/10/2024

(I would like to preface that I am no linguist, historian or expert in the Bengali and Sylheti language. This article reflects my observations, research and interactions as secretary of the Sylheti language society at SOAS, University of London.)

Sylheti is a politically unrecognised and endangered language spoken in Bangladesh and India. The language is erroneously referred to as an inferior dialect of the proper ‘shuddo’ (pure) Bengali. Sylheti is commonly perceived to be ‘oshuddo’ (impure) and a type of slang spoken by the uneducated. Ironically, what Bangladeshi nationalists consider to be authentic Bengali is more commonly spoken in India, not in Bangladesh. Moreover, Bangladesh is one of the many countries to practise linguistic supremacy in order to pursue cultural assimilation, similar to the policies of France, Finland, and China. This has led to language discrimination and an erasure of the linguistic diversity of Bangladesh. What Bangla radicals fail to accept is that Sylheti boasts a rich independent heritage of its own, dating back to the 6th century. 

In fact, Sylheti was originally written in a distinct script called Nagri, which dates back to the early 14th century, separate from the Bengali script. It was used to construct forms of Islamic poetry (puthis) which a large portion of the older Sylheti generation can recite from memory, but this tradition is gradually declining. In the late 19th century, nagri printing presses helped facilitate a vast and vibrant Sylheti language culture, all the way from Kolkata in the west to Shillong in the east. Pakistan Gazette newspapers published shortly before the independence of Bangladesh even mention Sylheti as a regional language!

Interestingly, the Banglafication of Sylhet traces its roots to the British Raj, who collaborated with Hindu pundits and intellectuals to codify and formalise a heavily sanskritised version of Bengali. This was of course to the detriment of other varieties and neighbouring languages in Bengal.

The truth is no language is pure or impure, inferior or superior. They evolve organically and represent different communities, cultures and experiences. Bangla is the official language of Bangladesh so it should be adopted, but Sylhetis in both diaspora and native communities should make a concerted effort to retain the Sylheti language. If not, Sylheti will never fulfil its due rights.

Bangla centrism, the emphasis on Bengali language as solely fundamental to the nation’s culture and politics, risks eroding other indigenous languages of Bangladesh such as Chatgaiya and Chakma.

For those Sylhetis who only speak Bengali, I encourage you to reconnect with your mother tongue. Doing so will help facilitate the survival and propagation of Sylheti as an independent language. For those Sylhetis who mistakenly believe their mother tongue is merely a dialect of Bengali - reclaim your heritage. However, speaking the language is not enough. We need to start a Sylheti language movement. This starts with the circulation of comprehensive Sylheti literature, media, and other forms of cultural production - not just online comedy skits designed to make a mockery out of our people. A movement would urge Sylheti communities to galvanise and create political realisations for the Sylheti language through petition and protest. It demands the celebration and identification of a separate Sylheti linguistic consciousness. With the new interim leadership under Muhammad Yunus, there is a renewed opportunity for positive change; this moment offers hope for the recognition and flourishing of regional languages in Bangladesh. Just as the Bengali language movement of 1971 stood against the imposition of Urdu, Sylheti speakers must also rise against the dominance of Bangla radicalism. Only then can the Sylheti language be recognised and respected by all. 

Zoy Silot (Victory to Sylhet)!