The Disintegration of Pakistan 1971: A Critical Study on The Role of Language Conflict In East and West Pakistan (1947- 1971)

Abstract

Language is a crucial aspect of human communication and identity, and conflicts between different inhabitants of regional spoken languages can be detrimental to a nation's unity and integrity. Pakistan, created based on religious demand, disintegrated due to regional language issues, which provided a platform for separatists. The Bangladesh freedom war can be traced back to the historical background of East Pakistan, which was not only due to geographical and economic factors but also a lack of sightedness on the part of political parties and leadership. The government believed that the demand for the Bengali language was driven by Hindus and fifth columnists. The language movement, which began in 1947 and culminated in the separation of East and West Pakistan in 1971, provided a foundation for Bengali nationalism. The government's misinterpretation of ground realities allowed separatists to divert patriotism and anti-Pakistanism. The current paper highlights the linguistic controversy responsible for the disintegration of Pakistan.