Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Himanta Sarma Urges Settlers To List Assamese As Mother Tongue
A census is a big count that governments do to find out how many people live in a country.
During the census, people are asked which language they speak at home, called their mother tongue.
The leader of the Indian state of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, is asking people who moved to Assam from other states to write 'Assamese' as their mother tongue.
He made this request while speaking at a celebration of India's Independence Day.
He said that people from the Barak Valley area and tribal communities can choose their own answer.
Sarma is worried because fewer and fewer people in Assam say Assamese is their language.
In 1971, about 59 out of every 100 people said Assamese was their mother tongue.
By 2011, that number had dropped to about 48 out of every 100 people.
He said the census information will help plan the country's future, so everyone should take part.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to residents originally from other states to record 'Assamese' as their mother tongue in the ongoing Census.
He made the appeal at the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Khanapara, saying the Census data will shape the country's future planning.
Sarma said Barak Valley residents and tribal communities may identify their mother tongue at their own discretion.
The share of Assamese speakers declined from 59.53% in 1971 to 48.80% in 2001 and 48.38% in 2011, and is believed to have fallen further since.
He specifically asked Assamese individuals who came from Rajasthan or other states with different languages and cultures to list 'Assamese'.
- Who
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma; the appeal targets Assam residents who are natives of other states.
- What
- Sarma urged settlers from other states to list 'Assamese' as their mother tongue during Census data collection, citing declining numbers of Assamese speakers.
- When
- Saturday, during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Khanapara (August 2026).
- Where
- Khanapara, Assam.
- Why
- Because the share of Assamese speakers in Assam has fallen from 59.53% in 1971 to 48.38% in 2011 and is believed to have declined further since.
- Chief Minister
- Himanta Biswa Sarma
- Event
- 80th Independence Day celebrations
- Location
- Khanapara, Assam
- Census Year
- 2026
- Assamese speakers (1971)
- 59.53%
- Assamese speakers (2001)
- 48.80%
- Assamese speakers (2011)
- 48.38%
- Exempted groups
- Barak Valley population and tribals