Resumen de Shaping the status of indigenous languages through policy: Kurukh in Bengal

Asifa Sultana, Dripta Piplai (Mondal), Indrani Roy

• Imposed political boundaries have an enormous impact on language communities. In this paper, we explore the status of an indigenous language in a region that has a long, shared history and culture. Focusing on two areas across a political border, i.e. Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, this paper examines the major language policies and practices of the two regions in relation to Kurukh and compares the use of Kurukh with references to the policies across the border. Data was collected from six groups of Kurukh-speaking adult community members based in Rangpur (Bangladesh) and Alipurduar, West Bengal (India) which was analysed using the themes of ‘profit’ and ‘pride’ associated with Kurukh. The study revealed commonalities in the two contexts as well as identified important sociolinguistic differences that are likely to determine the trajectory of Kurukh. Informed by the data emerging from the study, we propose some policy recommendations that are feasible and can be useful in protecting the Kurukh language and culture in Bangladesh and India.