Linguistic-cracy

Dr. Ashit Srivastava and Aashutosh Jagtap examine the phenomenon of state-sponsored language discrimination. The article delves into how language has historically been wielded as a mechanism of governance, sometimes even serving as a means of oppression. The authors introduce the concept of linguistic theocracy, arguing that just as religion has been used to establish state identity, language too has been leveraged to create exclusionary governance structures. The paper navigates through comparative case studies, including the imposition of Urdu in East Pakistan, Canada’s Francophone immigration policies, and the European Union’s handling of linguistic rights. Through these examples, the authors illustrate the tensions between cultural majoritarianism and minority linguistic protections. Engaging with constitutional safeguards from India, the European Court of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, they assess how legal frameworks either uphold or undermine linguistic diversity.

CALJ Volume IX Issue I_Linguistic Cracy.pdf

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