• ARUN BHATTACHARYA
• DR.SUNIL KUMAR JHA

Sectarian violence in schools is on the rise in many states of India. The present study deals with the causes, motives, viability and magnitude of sectarian linguistic violence in schools (Government -Aided and Government Sponsored) situated in Paschim (West )Behala assembly constituency ( particularly Behala ,Thakurpukur and Sarsuna) and Budge Budge in West Bengal in the light of linguistic pragmatics. This study collects relevant information and data from victims and victimisers of sectarian violence being fanned by racial invectives, scheming vindictiveness, seething and vitriolic misogynous language, communal sallies, 'homophobic slurs and semiotics of gestures and postures'. The increasing use of language to spark off and etch out violence in all forms, both psychological and physical, is largely due to the random access of almost everybody to the internet which has the paraphernalia like google chrome,WhatsApp , Facebook, Instagram, YouTube etc. There are other factors like association, family background, illiteracy and school environment for an individual, which are instrumental to build up an environment of linguistic vulnerability that triggers off a congenial ambience of sectarian violence. This study also focuses on how caste-based violence is being deliberately conceived of and resorted to by some in schools as a counterblast to protect one's own vested interests. Recommendations and suggestions are there in this paper as to how this unhealthy environment and venomous tendency inside the school premises, in particular, can be curbed and eventually stopped to ensure man-making and value-prompting education in schools and peaceful symbiosis of all, irrespective of caste, creed ,sect, clan and religion without any linguistic incitement and motivated violence. This study provides more research scope to the curious aspirants with a broader spectrum too.

language, sectarian, violence, schools, West Bengal

"Language and Sectarian Violence in Schools.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 7, page no.g464-g468, July-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2307665.pdf

"Language and Sectarian Violence in Schools.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 7, page no. ppg464-g468, July-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2307665.pdf