Introduction

Assam has two valleys - Brahmaputra Valley/Assam Valley (dominated by the Assamese and other indigenous tribals like Rabhas, Morans, Chutiyas, Ahoms, Tea tribes, Koch Rajbongshis, Tiwa etc.) 2) Barak Valley (dominated by Bengalis). While Bodoland region of Brahmaputra Valley is dominated by Bodo, followed by the Assamese community. Also it have three hills district comprising Karbi Anglong (East & West) and Dima Hasao (dominated mainly by indigenous Karbi and Dimasa tribes respectively).^[25]

The population of the Brahmaputra Valley is 27,580,977 according to the 2011 census report by the Assam government. Assamese is the official language of the Brahmaputra Valley and is spoken by 15.1 million people comprising 55.65% of the valley population. Bengali is spoken by 6.09 million people representing 22.1% of the valley, Hindi is spoken by 2.1 million comprising 7.61% of the region, Bodo is spoken by 1.41 million comprising 5.13% of the valley's population and 2.88 million people speak various indigenous tribal languages of Assam, such as Santali, Karbi, Lalung, Hmar, Deori, Rabha, Mishing, Koch, Rajbangshi, Sadri, Garo, Dimasa, Gondi, Savara, Gorkha, Halam, Rengma, Ao and Motak.^[28]

As per (2011) language census report, Bengali is the official as well as the most spoken language of the region with approximately 2,930,378 native speakers.^[29]

Hindi, Manipuri, Bishnupriya and Dimasa are the next most widely spoken languages with 362,459, 126,498, 50,019 and 21,747 native speakers, respectively. Tripuri, Odia, Nepali and Marwari are also spoken by a considerable minority, while 2.43% of the total population speaks other tribal languages.^[29]

Demographic changes

As per as census of India report 2011, around 14,816,414 Assamese speaking population lives in India, thus constituting 1.26% of the nation's population.^[30]

As per 2011 census, Assam state had around 31.2 million people, out of which (15 million) were Assamese speakers comprising 48% of the state population, while (9 million) were Bengali speakers comprising 29% of the state population, and 3.21% spoke Hindi and its dialects.^[33][34]

Decadal percentage of Assamese speakers in Assam^[31]

According to reports, in 1971 the number of Assamese-speaking populace was 60.89% in the census, with a population of (8.9 million), higher than their numbers in 2011. While the Bengali and Hindi-speaking population were at 19.70% (2.8 million) and 5.42% (7.9 lakhs).^[35][36] The Assamese speakers constituted 48% of the State population according to the 2011 Census, and it is predicted that the 2021 Census (currently under way) will reveal the percentage to dip lower below 40%.^[37] However, If Bengali-majority Barak valley region is excluded, then the percentage of native Assamese speakers in Assam alone will rise directly to 55.65% from 48% as per 2011 census figures calculation.^[38][33]

Illegal Immigration

In January 2019, the Assam's peasant organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) claimed that there are around 20 lakh (2 million) Hindu Bangladeshis in Assam.^[39] According to the census data, the number of Hindu immigrants is difficult to ascertain and have been largely exaggerated.^[40]

Census of India between (2001-2011) have shown that Bangladeshi Muslim population grows 5-7% in Assam specially in the bordering districts over the past decade.^[41] In February 2020, the Assam Minority Development Board announced plans to segregate illegal Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants from the indigenous Muslims of the state, though some have expressed problems in identifying an indigenous Muslim person. According to the board, there are 1.3 crore (13 million) Muslims in the state, of which 9 million are of Bangladeshi origin.^[42][43] Allegedly the number of 'illegal immigrants' in Assam of all religions is about 1 crore (10 million) and are scattered across the length and breadth of the state.^[44][45] A report reveals that out of total 33 districts in Assam, Bangladeshis dominate almost 15 districts of Assam.^[46]