What events led to the Assam Agitation from 1979 to 1985?

The Assam Agitation (1979–1985) was primarily driven by deep-seated concerns among the indigenous Assamese people regarding their cultural and linguistic identity, shifting demographics, and political power.1

The movement was fueled by several historical and political factors:

• Illegal Immigration: Centuries of migration from East Bengal—exacerbated by British colonial policies, the Partition of India, the 1965 India-Pakistan War, and the Bangladesh Liberation War—led to a significant influx of migrants. This created an "us versus them" sentiment between the indigenous population and those labeled "foreigners".1
• Linguistic Conflict: Tensions over language and social dominance had persisted since the 19th century. Conflicts intensified in the 1960s and 1970s following the push to make Assamese the sole official state language and subsequent disputes over the medium of education.1
• Electoral Concerns: Disagreements regarding the inclusion of "foreigners" in electoral rolls ahead of state assembly elections became a major flashpoint, eventually leading to widespread communal violence, including the Nellie Massacre in 1983.1

Led by the All Assam Students’ Union, the movement sought to address illegal immigration, culminating in the 1985 Assam Accord.1