I might be pushed into Bangladesh too: Amartya Sen

Nobel laureate Professor Amartya Sen has expressed deep concern over the growing linguistic intolerance in India.

Speaking at a discussion titled ‘India’s Young Society: What kind of social opportunities should they have’ in Kolkata on Friday, he said: “I too might be sent back to Bangladesh, because my ancestral home is in Dhaka. And I have no objection to that.”

The 91-year-old Nobel laureate said that he recently read in the newspaper that a person was sent to Bangladesh for speaking Bengali. The incident has worried him. However, with a natural sense of humor, he said:
“I thought I would speak French, but the problem is, I don’t know French.”

Amartya Sen stressed that the main strength of Indian civilization is its diversity. Every language and culture, including Bengali and Punjabi, has its own heritage, which needs to be celebrated and respected.

He said: “I am not saying that Bengali culture is superior, but its rich history should be highlighted. If there is no respect for culture, then we have to protest."

At the same time, he also expressed his opinion on the Special Comprehensive Revision (SIR) of the Voter List.

Amartya Sen said: "Voting rights cannot be taken away in the name of SIR. Many citizens in the country do not have the necessary documents, so their right to vote cannot be revoked."