The Assam Legislative Assembly has introduced Hindi as an additional working language from July 6, making it the fourth language used in the House alongside Assamese, English and Bodo.
The decision, announced by Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass ahead of the Budget Session of the 16th Assembly, was taken during a meeting attended by ministers and legislators from both the ruling and opposition benches.
Dass said the move was intended to recognise Hindi, which he described as the country’s “Rashtra Bhasha” a characterisation that reflects his statement, as the Indian Constitution does not designate any language as the national language.
The announcement comes amid concerns raised by the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) over reports that Bodo could be removed from the Assembly’s official logo.
Responding to the controversy, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma clarified that there is no proposal to remove Bodo from the Assembly’s proceedings or official business, reaffirming the state’s commitment to preserving and promoting the language.
The move has sparked debate around linguistic inclusion, constitutional recognition and the balance between expanding accessibility and safeguarding Assam’s multilingual identity.
Hindi Added Before Budget Session
The decision to introduce Hindi was announced just before the commencement of the Assembly’s 21-day Budget Session, which runs from July 6 to July 31, with the State Budget scheduled to be presented on July 10. Until now, Assembly proceedings officially recognised Assamese, English and Bodo.
With the latest decision, Hindi becomes the fourth working language available for legislative proceedings. Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass said the proposal was finalised during a meeting attended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika, Minister Keshab Mahanta, Leader of the Opposition Wazed Ali Chowdhury and MLAs Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Sabharam Basumatary, Chakradhar Gogoi and Joy Prakash Das.
“We have decided to introduce the Hindi language in the state assembly. Hindi is Rashtra Bhasha, and to recognise it, we have decided to introduce the Hindi language,” Dass said.
He also announced that the Assembly’s broadcasting platform, previously known as Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA), would be renamed Assam Vidhan Sabha TV, with plans to gradually develop it on the lines of Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV to improve public access to legislative proceedings. ‘
While supporters of the move see it as an effort to widen accessibility for Hindi-speaking legislators and visitors, language experts note that India has no constitutionally recognised national language, with Hindi and English serving as official languages of the Union alongside 22 constitutionally recognised languages in the Eighth Schedule.
Bodo Concerns Prompt Government Clarification
The announcement came against the backdrop of protests organised by the All Bodo Students’ Union in Kokrajhar after reports suggested that the Bodo language might be removed from the logo of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
The alleged proposal prompted concerns among sections of the Bodo community, who viewed any reduction in the language’s institutional visibility as a threat to its constitutional recognition and cultural identity. Bodo, one of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, enjoys official status in Assam and holds particular significance in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
Responding to the controversy, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on X that the Speaker had informed him there was “no proposal to withdraw the use of the Bodo language from the proceedings or any other official business of the Assembly.”
Calling Bodo “an inseparable part of Assam’s rich cultural heritage and identity”, the Chief Minister said the language embodies the history, traditions and aspirations of the Bodo community and enriches the state’s diverse social fabric.
“The Government of Assam is fully committed to preserving and promoting the Bodo language. We will continue to make every possible effort to support its growth and ensure that it continues to flourish for generations to come,” he wrote.
The clarification sought to reassure stakeholders that the inclusion of Hindi would supplement, rather than replace, the Assembly’s existing multilingual framework.
Even so, the development has reignited discussions on language policy in the Northeast, where linguistic identity has historically remained closely linked with culture, representation and regional autonomy.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Language is more than a medium of communication it is a carrier of identity, history and belonging. In a culturally diverse state like Assam, decisions involving official languages naturally evoke strong emotions because they touch upon questions of recognition and representation. Expanding linguistic access within democratic institutions can help make governance more inclusive, provided it does not come at the expense of languages that have long reflected the voices of indigenous and regional communities.
The Assam government’s assurance that Bodo will continue to enjoy full recognition is therefore an important step towards easing concerns, but sustaining public trust will require transparency, meaningful dialogue and continued support for all constitutionally recognised languages.
