In Assam's Silchar, a controversy emerged when participants in a rally commemorating the 1961 language movement in the Barak Valley raised slogans advocating for "Free Palestine" and "Stop Killing in Gaza".

People in the three districts of Barak Valley observed Bhasa Sahid Divas (language martyrs day) on May 19, commemorating the sacrifice of eleven youths during the language movement in 1961 in Silchar.

The rally on Friday was organised by Sammilita Sanskritik Mancha, an umbrella of 32 socio-cultural organisations. Attendees at the rally were seen displaying ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Stop Killing Children and Innocents in Gaza’ posters. Biswajit Das, the president of Sammilita Sanskritik Mancha, stated that the 1961 language movement was a fight against oppression by superior classes and drew parallels with the situation in Gaza.

“We are followers of Rabindranath Tagore. We believe we are global citizens, and we have to raise our voices against both local and global issues. We have sympathy for the Palestinians and also for those facing Russian attacks in Ukraine,” Das said.

He clarified that the slogans were raised by the Chorus organisation, which he founded, and not by others who attended the rally.

“For us, the moment of remembering the language movement is an opportunity to speak against all injustice, and we raised our voices against the killing of innocents and children in Gaza. The other organisations which took part in the rally may not agree with us and we didn’t force anyone to support us,” Das said.

The rally in Silchar, Assam, commemorating the 1961 language movement, sparked controversy when 'Free Palestine' and 'Stop Killing in Gaza' slogans were raised. Organised by Sammilita Sanskritik Mancha, the rally was criticised on social media for politicising the event.

Theatre activist Sayan Biswas stated on Facebook, “I participated to honour the language martyrs, not to support irrelevant slogans.” Social activist Joydeep Dutta said, “The rally seemed more like a platform to criticise the government than to remember the martyrs.”

In response, advocate Sishir Dey remarked, “No movement is apolitical. The 1961 language movement was also against a government decision. We should honour the martyrs by opposing government wrongs today.”

The 1961 movement saw eleven youths, including a 14-year-old girl, killed in police firing while protesting the Assam Language Act, which sought to make Assamese the state's only official language.

Following the deaths of the eleven youths, the Assam government made Bengali the official language of Barak Valley's three districts and Bodo the official language of Bodoland.

During Friday's rally in Silchar, some organisations called for official recognition of the language martyrs. "The Mehrotra Commission investigated the incident, but its report was never made public. We demand the government release it," said Gauhati High Court lawyer Taniya Laskar.

Additionally, participants raised issues about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the treatment of doubtful voters, demanding the closure of detention centres. Over 100 Doloo tea garden workers also attended, demanding their garden back after it was uprooted for a Greenfield Airport project, which the Supreme Court halted due to lack of environmental clearance.

Image source: Hindustan Times