Dehradun, Feb. 22 -- On International Mother Language Day
In March 1948, just months after the birth of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah taking over the reins of the government declared that the state language of Pakistan would be Urdu. All official communication from then on was to be in Urdu and the language was made compulsory in schools. Meanwhile, Bangla, which was widely used in East Pakistan, was removed from the school curriculum as also from stamps and currency.
On 21 February 1952, students of Dhaka University began their protest against the 'Urdu only' policy of their government. The police began indiscriminate firing on the students, killing many of them. The agitation forced the Pakistani leadership to make Bangla one of the off...