The Honourable Khwaja Nazimuddin (East Bengal: Muslim): Sir, I feel it my duty to let the House know what the opinion of the overwhelming majority of the people of Eastern Pakistan over this question of Bengalee language is. I think, there will be no contradiction if I say that as far as inter communication between the provinces and the centre is concerned, they feel that Urdu is the only language that can be adopted. But there is a very strong feeling that the medium of instruction should be Bengali in Educational Institutions and as far as the administration of the province is concerned, the language used in administering the province should also be Bengalee. I am glad to find that the Hon'ble the Leader of the House has made it clear that there is no question of ousting Bengalee from the province and I am sure that the overwhelming majority of the people are in favor of having Urdu as the State Language for the Pakistan State as a whole.
There is another point which I would like to correct. The previous speakers who have supported this amendment have made out that Hindi is the language of the majority of the people in the other Dominion. That, I think, is not correct. As far as Madras. Bombay, CP., Orissa, are concerned, in these provinces. Hindi is not their mother tongue. I think, I can state that even in U.P., the majority of the people in that province speak Urdu and those who advocated Hindi, find it very difficult to make a fluent speech in Hindi in the Assembly or in public meetings. So, Hindi is not the mother tongue of all the provinces in the Indian Dominion and yet Hindi has been accepted as the state language there. Therefore, on that analogy, Sir, there is no ground for supporting theory that Bengalee should be the state language of Pakistan, but I do feel very strongly over the question of language as far as the province of Bengal is concerned.
I would raise the question in proper time and like to press the case that so far as general administration and Government business in the provincial sphere is concerned. the language to be used should be Bengalee within Bengal.
Mr. Sris Chandra Chattopadhyaya (East Bengal: General): Mr. President, Sir, it pains me to hear the Hon'ble the Leader of the House when he says that Pakistan is a Muslim State. So long my idea was that Pakistan is the Peoples' State and it belongs to the Muslims as well as to the non-Muslims. If today the statement of the Honorable the Leader to the House is accepted that it is a matter of serious consideration for the non- Muslims whether they have any right to take any part in the framing of the constitution as well. That is really very important question because in that case, Muslims only, and it is desirable, should frame their own constitution. I have already told you and told this House that so long in my speeches I asserted to the people of my part of the country that the Pakistan is not merely a Muslim state but it is a state of the Muslims as well as that of non-Muslims, i.e., it is people's state. That is a matter, I desire the Honorable the Leader of the House to clarify so that in future we may decide our line of action and know our position also in the state.
Here the amendment says-it never said about the state language-how the proceedings of the House are to be conducted. There is mention of Urdu as well as English. He only wants to add Bengalee. If the House accepts, well and good but so far as lingua franca is concerned, it is not a point at issue today but even if it is made Urdu, I have no objection
