An overview of systematic linguistic genocide in Pakistan

Language is one of the most significant determinants of identity, if not the most significant. This is especially so in multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural geographies, such as the Indian subcontinent. It is to the eternal credit of the members of the Indian constituent assembly that the Constitution of India recognizes this fact by not nominating any overarching, impositional “National language” and having 2 “Official languages” at the national level. There is even more freedom and autonomy at the level of the states. The Constitution leaves all states free to, through their legislatures, adopt any language/s used in their territories as their official language or languages. This is in sharp contrast to article 251 of the 1973 Pakistan constitution, which states that Urdu is the sole national language of Pakistan, and that arrangements shall be made for its being used for official and other purposes within 15 years.