“21st Feb International Mother Tongue Day”; Bangladesh’s struggle and sacrifices for its mother tongue, Bangla.
On February 21 (Monday), the world celebrates International Mother Language Day to encourage linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. In 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) endorsed the notion of celebrating International Mother Language Day.
On Bangladesh’s proposal, the United Nations designated February 21 as International Mother Language Day in 2000, honouring the country’s struggle and sacrifices for the mother tongue.
According to the UNESCO the day was established on Bangladesh’s initiative in 2000 and has been commemorated around the world since then. The United Nations designated February 21 as International Mother Language Day in 2000, honouring Bangladesh’s struggle and sacrifices for its mother tongue, Bangla.
February 21, or Ekushe February, is not just any other date for every Bengali in the globe, whether from Bengal, Bangladesh, or anywhere else.
The 21st of February is a day that defines their identity, a day rich in history and the suffering wrought by the people of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in order to defend their mother tongue, Bangla, from West Pakistan’s imposition of Urdu.
The Bhasha Andolan, as it was known, was a one-of-a-kind movement, and February 21, 1952, marked the start of a lengthy war that culminated in the establishment of Bangladesh following the Liberation War of 1971.
Meanwhile, “UNESCO recognises the value of cultural and linguistic variety in the development of sustainable societies. It aims to preserve variations in cultures and languages that develop tolerance and respect for others as part of its peace mandate, according to the UN body.
UNESCO has raised worry over the loss of languages around the world. According to the report, 40% of the world’s population lacks access to education in a language they speak or comprehend.
“Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and Opportunities,” according to UNESCO, is the theme of the 2022 International Mother Language Day.
Meanwhile, India is making every effort to increase the use of mother tongue in the educational system. In India, an obligatory topic in their mother tongue was established in schools. Today, during a webinar, the Prime Minister spoke about the necessity for digital universities in India, which would meet international standards and be operationalized shortly, while also emphasizing the need of mother tongue encouragement. He also mentioned that medical studies are conducted in the mother tongues of many Indian states.
