Soon after Pakistan was formed in 1945, the population of Bengalis in East Pakistan felt that the Punjabi and Urdu speakers of its Western region were not willing to respect their sentiments over language and culture. What does this situation indicate?

Denial of cultural diversity

The correct answer is Option (4) → Denial of cultural diversity

The situation described highlights how the cultural and linguistic identity of the Bengalis in East Pakistan was not respected by the dominant groups from West Pakistan. This reflects a denial of cultural diversity, where the language, culture, and sentiments of a significant group were not given due recognition or acceptance.

• Practice of Pluralism: Pluralism involves respecting and coexisting with different cultural, linguistic, and religious groups within a society. The situation described is the opposite of pluralism.

• Authoritarianism: While the actions of the West Pakistani government could be seen as authoritarian in their attempt to impose a language, "denial of cultural diversity" more precisely describes the nature of the conflict from the perspective of the Bengalis. Authoritarianism is the method of governance, while the problem itself stems from the refusal to accept diverse identities.

• Nationalism: While both sides might have had their own forms of nationalism, the specific issue described is the clash between a dominant nationalistic vision (Urdu-based Pakistani nationalism) and a sub-nationalism (Bengali nationalism) stemming from a lack of recognition of cultural distinctiveness. "Denial of cultural diversity" is the root cause of this particular conflict.