Census, identity and who gets counted.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed to people “native to Assam” to list Assamese as their mother tongue in the 2027 Census. The reason: to protect the future of Assamese identity.
The numbers explain the urgency. In 1951, 56.29% of Assam spoke Assamese. That fell to 48.38% in 2011. Meanwhile Bengali speakers rose from 19.76% in 1971 to 28.91% in 2011. Hindi speakers also grew.
The CM’s appeal is not new. It’s part of a long political project to define “Assamese”. But this time it comes as the Census begins house-listing in August 2025. The data will shape delimitation, funding and political representation.
Analysts say the slide is due to migration, inter-state movement, and changing self-identification. A key factor is Bengali-origin Muslims, called “Na-Asomiya” or neo-Assamese. Many who once identified as Bengali now list Assamese as mother tongue, especially in the Brahmaputra Valley. That shift was encouraged to counter the “foreign origin” tag.
The paradox: everyone wants to be “Us”. Bengali-origin Muslims who migrated decades ago are now claiming Assamese identity. At the same time, the CM is urging “original” Assamese to assert their language to prevent being outnumbered.
This creates a “petty of identities”. Bodo, Karbi, Mising communities are also reasserting tribal languages. The BJP, meanwhile, tries to project itself as protector of indigenous Assamese, while offering “exemptions” to Barak Valley Bengalis and Hindi speakers.
The 2027 Census will be a political moment. Language data will decide who is counted as Assamese. The CM’s push is about demography as much as culture.
But experts warn: identity cannot be legislated by forms. If people feel forced to choose, the data will reflect politics, not reality. Assam’s challenge is to make Assamese aspirational without making others feel excluded.
Otherwise, the “proud Assamese” campaign may count more people, but heal fewer divides.