A new academic study in Contemporary South Asia analyzes the 1961 language violence in Assam's Barak Valley, arguing it stemmed from political choices and policy failures, not inevitability. The study contends language in Assam serves as a marker of belonging and a trigger for conflict. It examines the 1961 amendment recognizing Assamese as the sole official language, which led to protests and 11 deaths in Silchar, highlighting the complex interplay of language, power, and identity in the state's multi-ethnic society.