On February 21 each year, International Mother Language Day is celebrated. This movement originated as a Bangla language movement in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, an independent nation. It was started with the intention of preserving the Bangla language, which was widely spoken in Bangladesh. This day is just as important because it reminds us that there are many languages in the world and that we need to work to protect their history and existence.
On February 21, the United Nations (UN) organizes International Mother Language Day, a worldwide celebration of language diversity and variety. It also remembers things like the February 21, 1952, assassination of four students who had campaigned to officially use Bengali, their mother tongue, in Bangladesh.
The fight for language diversity has been going on for a long time, particularly in places like Bangladesh. The fight for language diversity has been going on for a long time, particularly in places like Bangladesh.
What do individuals do?
Events that celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity are held on International Mother Language Day by UN agencies and the Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). They also encourage people to use and learn multiple languages while maintaining their mother tongue knowledge. The day may be used by governments and non-governmental organizations to announce policies that support and encourage language learning.
On February 21, Bangladesh commemorates a significant historical event. At a Shaheed Minar, which is a memorial to martyrs, flowers are placed. Also, they: purchase bangles made of glass for female relatives or for themselves; host parties and eat a festive meal; and host literary competitions or award prizes. Celebrate Bangladeshi culture and the Bengali language at this time.
The Linguapax Institute, based in Barcelona, Spain, aims to safeguard and promote global linguistic diversity. Each year, on International Mother Language Day, the institute gives away the Linguapax Prize. Outstanding contributions to linguistic diversity or multilingual education are eligible for the award.
Public Life: In Bangladesh, International Mother Language Day is observed as a public holiday under the name Shohid Dibôsh, or Shaheed Day. In other parts of the world, it is not a public holiday, but it is observed worldwide.
Background: When India was divided in 1947, the Bengal province was divided based on which religions were the most popular. The western portion became a part of India, while the eastern portion became a Pakistani province known as East Bengal and, later, East Pakistan. However, East and West Pakistan experienced economic, cultural, and linguistic strife.
When Pakistan's government declared that Urdu was the sole national language in 1948, these tensions became evident. East Pakistan's Bengali-speaking majority protested as a result. The protests were banned by the government, but on February 21, 1952, activists and students at the University of Dhaka staged a demonstration. Soon thereafter, the police started shooting at the demonstrators and killed four understudies. International Mother Language Day commemorates the lives lost by these students in the struggle for their right to use their native language.
As Bengali speakers fought for the right to speak their mother tongue, the unrest persisted. On February 29, 1956, Bengali became Pakistan's official language. After the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Bangladesh became an independent nation whose official language is Bengali.
UNESCO declared February 21 to be International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999, and it was first observed on February 21, 2000. The celebrations surrounding International Mother Language Day focus on a specific topic each year.
Symbols: The martyr's monument known as the Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, Bangladesh, honors the four protesters who were killed in 1952. The monument has existed in three different versions. In 1952, the initial version was constructed on February 22 and 23, but the police and army promptly destroyed it. The second version's construction began in November 1957, but work was halted when martial law was imposed, and it was destroyed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The plans for the construction of the third Shaheed Minar were very similar to those for the second one. It has four standing marble frames as well as a larger double marble frame with a slanted top. Marble is used in the construction of the frames, which sit on top of a stage that is raised about four meters (or 14 feet) above the ground. The double frame depicts their mothers and the nation, while the four frames represent the four men who passed away on February 21, 1952. Replicas of the Shaheed Minar have been built all over the world in locations where Bangladeshis have settled, particularly in London and Oldham in the UK.
On February 19, 2006, an International Mother Language Day monument was erected at Ashfield Park in Sydney, Australia. It is made up of a slate slab that is vertically supported on a raised platform. On the stone's face, stylized images of the globe and the Shaheed Minar are displayed. In addition, the phrases "we will remember the martyrs of February 21" in Bengali and English, as well as words written in five alphabets to represent people's mother languages on five continents, are included.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY: Since 2000, the world has observed International Mother Language Day annually. UNESCO first made the announcement on November 17, 1999. With the adoption of the United Nations resolution 56/262 later in 2002, it was officially recognized.
It was a Bangladeshi initiative to mark International Mother Language Day. The day on February 21 also marks the anniversary of the Bangladeshi people's struggle for the language's recognition. This has been going on since 1947, when Pakistan was established. It included East Pakistan and West Pakistan, two geographically distinct regions. The languages and cultures of these regions were strikingly diverse.
In 1948, East Pakistani Dhirendranath Datta requested that Bangla, in addition to Urdu, be at least one of Pakistan's official languages. This was made possible by a lot of protests, but the Pakistani government banned public gatherings and rallies to put an end to these protests. Following this, massive gatherings and rallies were organized by the general public and University of Dhaka students. These rallies were even attacked by police with guns.
Rafiqul Islam's proposal was presented in the Bangladesh parliament much later, after Bangladesh became a state. The Bangladeshi government also presented UNESCO with a formal proposal. On November 17, 1999, the 30th General Gathering of UNESCO collectively settled that "February 21 be broadcasted Global Mother Language Day all through the world to honor the saints who forfeited their lives on this very day in 1952."
On this day, Bangladeshis pay their respects and express their deep sorrow by visiting the Shaheed Minar, a memorial to the martyrs, and its replicas.
Timeline for International Mother Language Day: 1948 Urdu is declared Pakistan's national language by the Pakistani government, despite the fact that Bangla is widely spoken in East Pakistan.
Fire on Rallies on February 21, 1952 The Pakistani police open fire on rallies protesting the inclusion of their native language.
Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam write a letter to Kofi Annan on January 9, 1998, requesting that he act to preserve languages and establish International Mother Language Day.
2008
Year of Dialects
The U.N. General Get together lays out the Worldwide Year of Dialects.
Questions about International Mother Language Day: Which is the world's first language?
Sanskrit, also known as Devbhasha, is the oldest language in the world. It has been observed that Sanskrit is the source of inspiration for all European languages.
Which language is the most difficult to learn?
Mandarin, Icelandic, Japanese, Hungarian, Korean, Arabic, Finnish, and Polish are among the most challenging languages to learn.
Which language's grammar is the most difficult?
The grammar of Hungarian and Finnish is the most challenging and can be challenging to comprehend.
Step by step instructions to Notice Worldwide MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY:-
Pursue a language class:-
On Global Mother Language Day, join to gain proficiency with a worldwide language. It could be any language, including Hindi, French, Mandarin, or Spanish. You won't believe how many languages there are out there.
Speak in your native tongue: On International Mother Language Day, at least with your family, try to speak only in your native tongue. The majority of the time, we speak in a language other than our own and forget how to say basic words in our native tongue. You have the opportunity to alter that today.
Teach a language: Do you already speak several languages? Well, you can use your skills to teach a friend or family member a new language. You'll also be able to improve your language skills and refresh your knowledge with this.
The majority of Indian languages are divided into four distinct groups: Afro-Asiatic, Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, and Sino-Tibetan. Linguistic Facts About Mother Languages
Thousands of languages: There are approximately 7,000 languages spoken worldwide.
Papua New Guinea: With 840 languages, Papua New Guinea has the most languages in the world.
Languages that are going extinct: There are approximately 2,400 languages that are close to going extinct all over the world.
The English language has the most words: The English language has more than 250,000 words.
WHAT MAKES INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY SO IMPORTANT? Because the world is made up of hundreds of different cultures and people who speak different languages. Diversity across cultures is promoted by International Mother Language Day. It gives people a glimpse into other cultures and lets them know about the many languages spoken around the world.
It encourages language acquisition: Knowing multiple languages is always advantageous. A second language may be required at any time. The celebration of International Mother Language Day encourages multilingualism and language acquisition.
It keeps old languages alive: Languages are necessary for simple communication. We are unaware of the existence of a number of languages that are disappearing. This day helps us understand ancient languages as well as the many languages spoken around the world.
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