Curated by: Nibandh Vinod
Last update: February 20, 2024, 23:02 IST
The theme of International Mother Language Day 2024 is Multilingual Education: A Pillar of Intergenerational Learning. (Image: Shutterstock)
International Mother Language Day pays tribute to the students of Dhaka University of 1952 who fought bravely for Bengali. His sacrifice lives on as a testimony to the power of language.
International Mother Language Day is celebrated annually on February 21. Recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999, the day highlights the importance of linguistic and cultural wealth, promoting multilingualism and inclusion. It emphasizes the role of language in achieving sustainable development goals and leaving no one behind. People are increasingly aware of the value that language has in development, cultural preservation and intercultural dialogue. Foster collaboration and improve quality education for all.
The day reminds us of the crucial role that languages play in identity, culture and communication. Promoting linguistic diversity and encouraging multilingualism are essential to achieve inclusion, sustainability and intercultural understanding.
THEME OF INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY 2024
The theme for this year selected by UNESCO is 'Multilingual education: a pillar of intergenerational learning'. This theme highlights the fundamental role that languages play in promoting inclusive education and safeguarding indigenous languages.
HISTORY AND MEANING
After India's independence in 1947, a linguistic conflict arose in the subcontinent. In 1948, Pakistan declared Urdu its only official language, sparking protests in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh), where Bengali was dominant.
On February 21, 1952, students at Dhaka University in Bangladesh stood firm, determined to protect the sanctity of their mother tongue, Bengali. Despite the East Pakistan government banning gatherings and events, the protest saw a massive outpouring of people joining hands to safeguard the existence and prevalence of their mother tongue.
This movement, which resulted in the martyrdom of five students, is now commemorated annually by UNESCO on International Mother Language Day.
International Mother Language Day commemorates their sacrifice and recognizes the value of native languages, particularly in early education. Highlights the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingualism.
LANGUAGES IN INDIA AND THE WORLD
With approximately 7,000 languages spoken around the world, India has remarkable linguistic diversity. More than 2,000 languages are spoken within its borders, and the cultural and linguistic diversity changes every few hundred kilometers.
The Indian Constitution recognizes 22 official languages, including Bengali, Hindi, Tamil and Marathi. Hindi, Bengali and Marathi are also among the most spoken languages in the world, with millions of speakers each. Furthermore, India has numerous non-scheduled languages with significant populations of speakers.
