Bhattacharya, Joyati2024-12-052024-12-052023-12Bhattacharya, J. (2023). Partition, Politics, and the Quest for Bengali Identity: A Case of Barak Valley in South Assam. Refugee Watch: A South Asian Journal on Forced Migration, 61 & 62, 123-139. http://www.mcrg.ac.in/rw%20files/RW61_62/RW61_62.pdf2347-405Xhttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/42548This article is reproduced here with permission from the author and may be found online at http://www.mcrg.ac.in/rw%20files/RW61_62/RW61_62.pdf.Prior to independence, Barak Valley was a part of Surma Valley. When Sylhet and Cachar, two Bengali speaking districts of the Bengal Presidency, were separated and combined to form Assam in 1874, Surma Valley administrative division was created. Until Sylhet’s secession to East Pakistan in 1947 Cachar district remained a part of Surma Valley. After Sylhet, Cachar district became the lone Bengali stronghold in Assam. In late twentieth century, Barak Valley became the name of Cachar district which included remnants of erstwhile Sylhet. Historically, Barak Valley has gone through partition twice- once in 1874 when it was severed from Bengal and again in 1947 when Sylhet voted to secede. In post-independent Assam, Barak Valley turned into an alien land. Subsequent actions of the leadership have significantly impacted the socio-political life and strengthened the sense of isolation of Barak Valley. The present study is intended to comprehend how Barak Valley has struggled to preserve its identity despite going through a serious existential crisis.SylhetReferendumBarak ValleyPurbachalLanguage movementArticle