An Empathetic Inquiry into Ethno-Nationalist Movement in East Bengal: A Struggle from Cultural Recognition to a Separate Nation-State

Abstract

It's ironic that East Bengal, the region with the majority population, found itself striving for autonomy and eventual separation from the region with the minority population. Scholars have extensively studied this movement for autonomy and separation. However, these studies often lack proper contextualization within a nation-state framework that sensitises ethnic groups regarding their share of power. Since ethnic consciousness is inherently subjective, this study aims to understand the evolution of the movement from the perspective of Bengali intelligentsia and political activists involved in the movement. Therefore, an empathetic inquiry has been employed in this study.

It is argued that the continual decline in East Pakistan's share of power fueled sentiments of autonomy and separation among its populace. Consequently, there existed a negative correlation between the diminishing share of power and the growing public commitment to a distinct Bengali identity in the case of East Bengal. In conclusion, the movement evolved from cultural expression, followed by economic rationalization, and escalated to its political manifestation through mass mobilization and ultimately led to civil war because of denial of due share in power through electoral means.