Dept of Bengali

The Bengali language (also known as Bangla, Bangala, or Bânggala) is a classical Indo-Aryan language and the principal spoken and written language of the Bengali people in South Asia. By number of native speakers, Bengali ranks fifth among Indo-European languages, and by total number of users, it is the seventh most spoken language in the world. Bengali is the sole state and official language of Bangladesh, the only sovereign nation-state based on language. The national anthem of Bangladesh, “Amar Shonar Bangla”, and the national marching song, “Notuner Gaan”, were both composed in Bengali. All national-level activities of Bangladesh are conducted in this language. India, being a multilingual country, has no national language. However, the Constitution of the Republic of India recognizes 22 languages in its Eighth Schedule, known as the scheduled languages. Since the inception of the Constitution in 1950, Bengali has been one of these recognized languages. On October 3, 2024, the Government of India accorded Bengali the status of a classical language. Bengali is an official language in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and the Barak Valley of Assam. It is also the primary spoken language of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. In addition, significant Bengali-speaking populations live in Jharkhand, Bihar, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Odisha. According to the 2011 Census of India, 8.03% of India’s population speaks Bengali, making it the second most spoken language in India after Hindi.

Read more