World Mother Language Day
World Mother Language Day: A Purpose of Celebrating Linguistic Heritage
Introduction:
World Mother Language Day is celebrated every year on February 21 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999, the day honors the sacrifice of students who died in 1952 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, advocating for the recognition of their mother tongue, Bengali. It emphasizes the importance of preserving and promoting native languages for fostering inclusive societies and sustainable development.
Table of Contents:
- What is World Mother Language Day?
- History of World Mother Language Day
- Why World Mother Language Day is celebrated?
- Importance of Mother Language Day
- Themes of celebrating Mother Language Day
- Why 21st February is called Shaheed Diwas?
- What is World Mother Language Day?
World Mother Language Day is observed on February 21 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and raise awareness of the importance of preserving mother tongues. Established by UNESCO in 1999, it commemorates the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in Bangladesh, where students sacrificed their lives advocating for the recognition of their native language.
- History of World Mother Language Day?
International Mother Language Day', declared by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, has been observed globally since 21 February 2000 to honor the 'Bengali Language Movement.' In 1952, students in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) protested for Bengali to be recognized as a national language, as Urdu was declared the sole national language despite the majority of people in East Pakistan speaking Bengali. On 21 February 1952, police killed several students during the protests, marking a tragic moment where lives were sacrificed for linguistic rights. This day is now a national holiday in Bangladesh, initiated by Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam in 1998, and is recognized to promote linguistic diversity, multilingual education, and cultural awareness worldwide.
- Why World Mother Language Day is celebrated?
World Mother Language Day promotes linguistic and cultural diversity, raises awareness about the importance of preserving mother languages, and highlights the risks of language loss worldwide. It commemorates the sacrifices made during the Bengali Language Movement in 1952, where students in Bangladesh died protesting for the recognition of their native language, Bengali, as a national language.
- Importance of Mother Language Day:
Mother Language Day emphasizes key points related to preserving linguistic diversity, supporting cultural identity, multilingual education, and the importance of protecting endangered languages. The role of mother languages in promoting social inclusion, cultural expression, and sustainable development is also clearly conveyed.
- Themes of celebrating Mother Language Day:
Themes of World Mother Language Day by year:
- 2015: "Our Languages are our Assets: Why Multilingualism Matters."
- 2016: "Quality Education, Language(s) of Instruction and Learning."
- 2017: "Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education."
- 2018: "Linguistic Diversity and Sustainable Development."
- 2019: "Indigenous Languages as a Factor of Development."
- 2020: "Languages without Borders."
- 2021: "Fostering Multilingualism for Inclusion in Education and Society."
- 2022: "Using Technology for Multilingual Learning: Challenges and Opportunities."
- 2023: "Multilingual Education—A Necessity to Transform Education."
- 2024: "Promoting Multilingualism for Inclusion in Education and Society"
- Why 21st February is called Shaheed Diwas?
21st February is called 'Shaheed Diwas' (Martyrs' Day) in honor of the students and protesters who were killed in 1952 during the 'Bengali Language Movement' in 'East Pakistan' (now Bangladesh). They were protesting for the recognition of Bengali as one of the national languages of Pakistan. The police opened fire on the peaceful protesters, resulting in the deaths of several students, and their sacrifice is commemorated every year on this day.
Conclusion:
World Mother Language Day serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and promoting multilingual education. It highlights the need to protect endangered languages and supports cultural identity, social inclusion, and sustainable development. By celebrating this day, we honor the sacrifices made for language rights and encourage efforts to ensure that mother languages are valued and protected worldwide.