During the month of language, a debate resurfaced over the distortion of Bangla through the use of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu words and jargon. Some people alleged a deliberate move to replace common Bangla words with non-Bengali ones, claiming an intent to undermine the essence of the language. Many dismissed this, saying the use of some Arabic-Persian jargon is nothing new in Bangla. A minister, however, fuelled the debate by saying that if people in Bangladesh embrace Bangla as their mother tongue, slogans like 'Inquilab Zindabad' cannot continue. The minister's sharp remark drew applause from a few and condemnation from some who led the July 2024 mass uprising. The BNP minister's assertion was also condemned by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, turning the issue into a political one.
During the July mass uprising, protestors used a few Arabic-Persian- Urdu jargon in their slogans, even though better Bangla alternatives exist. For example, Azadi was used instead of Shadhinata or Mukit (independence or freedom), Golami instead of Dasotta (slavery), and Inquilab instead of Biplob (revolution). These terms were widely used then and still appear in some cases. Similarly, words like Insaf (justice) instead of Nay Bichar, and Majlum (oppressed) instead of Nipirito, along with other Urdu-Persian jargon, are also present.
A key reason for adopting these jargons during the July mass uprising that forced the Hasina regime to fall was to make the language of protest and resistance more vigorous. Using new or uncommon jargon is a rebellious act that requires strong moral courage, which the July protestors demonstrated. Many argued that adding a few different or irregular jargons alongside familiar ones helped them draw attention from people across the country and attract more youths to join the movement.
Now, the question is what drives the young protestors to adopt and use the jargons originated from or linked with Urdu-Persian? Those who alleged that the move was intended to disrespect the spirit of Bangla language are wrong and have no idea about the natural flow of any language. Some further added that using Arabic-Persian-Urdu jargon is an attempt at Islamisation or Pakistanisation of Bangla. This idea is misguided, as over the centuries, many Arabic and Persian words and jargon have been adopted in Bangla.
The use of Azadi, Inquilab, or Insaf during the July uprising and after is also inspired by various historical movements in the subcontinent during British rule. In 1921, Indian independent activist and Urdu poet Hasrat Mohani coined 'Inquilab Zindabad' (Long live the revolution). Soon, it became popular jargon among anti-British protestors and was later used in various movements against oppression and injustice. Bhagat Singh, an anti-colonial revolutionary was moved by the jargon and used to shout it even when he was in gallows in 1931. History shows that any protest and resistance movement against oppression is generally inspired by similar past events. There is no rigid guideline or rule specifying which past movements the present protestors will follow. Linking these jargons with 'those who once tried to take our mother tongue away', as the BNP minister asserted, seems true but is misleading. The historic language movement in 1952 was mainly driven by protest against the move to impose Urdu as the only state language. This created anger against Urdu in East Bengal. At the same time, the demand to formally recognise Bangla as a state language of Pakistan, alongside Urdu, was another key pillar of the movement. Because of the oppressive attitude of West Pakistan and the persistent undermining of Bengali culture, anger against Urdu-speaking people gradually turned into hatred for the language. After Bangladesh became independent following a nine-month war in 1971, the use of Urdu in public life vanished, though a few people still use it among themselves. Urdu is also used in some Islamic religious institutions, and a few people still learn it to read Urdu literature. Over the decades, hatred against Urdu has subsided. The spread of Hindi movies and TV serials has also made many people familiar with the language. As a result, some people in the country know and understand Urdu or Hindi and can even communicate at a basic level in these languages. Thus, the use of various Urdu-Hindi jargon is already there.
Finally, some words and jargons lost their relevance over time and their use has also become limited. New jargons enter to replace old ones as per the necessity of time. Bangla is an inclusive language where entry and exit of words from other languages is a long tradition that does not distort the essence of the language.
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