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International Mother Language Day

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International Mother Language Day
Abstract outdoor monument, reminiscent of a prison
Shaheed Minar (Martyr Monument) commemorates the 21 February 1952 Bengali Language Movement demonstration.
Official nameInternational Mother Language Day (IMLD)
Observed byWorldwide
SignificancePromotes the preservation and protection of all languages
Date21 February
Next time21 February 2025 (2025-02-21)
FrequencyAnnual
Related toBengali Language Movement

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999,[1] it was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in a resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.[2][3][4][self-published source] The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh 21 February is the anniversary of the day when Bangladeshis fought for recognition for the Bangla language.[5]

History

Main article: Bengali language movement
Procession march held on 21 February 1952 in Dhaka

21 February was declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999. It has been observed throughout the world since 21 February 2000. The declaration came up in tribute to the Language Movement done by the Bangladeshis (then the East Pakistanis).

When Pakistan was created in 1947, it had two different parts: East Pakistan (currently known as Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (currently known as Pakistan). The two parts were very different to each other in sense of culture, language, etc. The two parts were also separated by India in between.

In 1948, the then Government of Pakistan declared Urdu to be the sole national language of Pakistan even though Bengali or Bangla was spoken by the majority of people combining East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (now Pakistan) The East Pakistan people protested, since the majority of the population was from East Pakistan and their mother language was Bangla. They demanded Bangla to be at least one of the national languages, in addition to Urdu.

To demolish the protest, the government of Pakistan outlawed public meeting and rallies. The students of the University of Dhaka, with the support of the general public, arranged massive rallies and meetings. On 21 February 1952, police opened fire on rallies. Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and Shafiur died, with hundreds of others injured. This is one of the very rare incidents in history, where people had to sacrifice their lives for their mother tongue.

The sacrifice of the martyrs was not wasted. After years of continuously growing protests, greater rallies, great other sacrifices by the Bangladeshis (then East Pakistanis), in 1956, the government was bound to grant official status to Bangla.

Since then Bangladeshis celebrate the International Mother Language Day as one of the tragic days. They go to Shahid Minar, a monument built to honor the martyrs, and express their deep sorrow and gratefulness to the martyrs.

International Mother Language Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh. The resolution was suggested by Rafiqul Islam, a Bengali living in Vancouver, Canada. He wrote a letter to Kofi Annan on 9 January 1998 asking him to take a step for saving the world's languages from extinction by declaring an International Mother Language Day. Rafiq proposed the date as 21 February to commemorate the 1952 killings in Dhaka during the Language Movement."21st February – The International Mother Language Day".

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

— From the United Nations International Mother Language Day microsite[6]

Timeline

Outdoor ceremony, with girls in red-and-white costumes dancing
Dedication of the International Mother Language Day Monument in Ashfield Park, Sydney, February 19, 2006
People laying flowers at a simple indoor shrine
Commemorating IMLD in Canada
  • 1952: Bengali Language Movement
  • 1955: Language Movement Day first observed in Bangladesh[7]
  • 1999: UNESCO proclaims 21 February (Ekushey February) as International Mother Language Day
  • 2000: Inaugural celebration of International Mother Language Day
  • 2002: Linguistic-diversity theme, featuring 3,000 endangered languages (motto: In the galaxy of languages, every word is a star.)
  • 2004: Children-learning theme; the UNESCO observance included "a unique exhibition of children’s exercise books from around the world illustrating the process by which children learn and master the use of written literacy skills in the classroom".[8]
  • 2005: Braille and sign languages
  • 2006: Languages and cyberspace
  • 2007: Multilingual education
  • 2008: International Year of Languages
  • 2010: International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
  • 2011: Information and communication technologies
  • 2012: Mother-tongue instruction and inclusive education
  • 2013: Books for mother-tongue education
  • 2014: Local languages for global citizenship: spotlight on science
  • 2015: Inclusion in and through education: language counts (with an event in Paris)[9]
  • 2016: Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes
  • 2017: Sustainable futures through multilingual education
  • 2018: Our languages, our assets.
  • 2019: International Year of Indigenous Languages[10]

Observances

UNESCO chooses a theme for each International Mother Language Day, and sponsors related events at its Paris headquarters. In 2008, the International Year of Languages began on International Mother Language Day. It is celebrated in Chile, Russia, the Philippines, Egypt and Canada.[11]

Bangladesh

Main article: Language Movement Day

Bangladeshis celebrate International Mother Language Day by placing flowers at the Martyrs' Monument and its replicas.[12] A public holiday in the country since 1953,[13] it is also known as Shohid Dibôsh (Martyr Day). On 17 November 1999, the UNESCO General Conference recognized 21 February as International Mother Language Day.[14] Bangladeshis organize social gatherings honoring their language and culture, hold literary competitions, draw alpana on the roads, eat festive meals and listen to songs.[12][15]

Canada

IMLD British Columbia proclamation

International Mother Language Day was introduced to the Parliament of Canada for recognition by Matthew Kellway on February 5, 2014 as a private member's bill, C-573.[16][17]

In 2015, British Columbia and Manitoba issued proclamations observing International Mother Language Day on 21 February.[18] Edmonton observed International Mother Language Day on February 21, 2017.[19]

India

As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital India initiative, digitized content will be made available in the country's 22 scheduled languages and extended to India's other 234 recognized languages. Digitization began in June 2016 through the Bharatavani Project at the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysore, and by February 2017 content in 60 Indian languages had been made available free of charge.[20][21][22]

Awards

Linguapax Prize

The Linguapax Prize is awarded annually on IMLD by the Linguapax Institute in Barcelona. The prize recognizes outstanding achievement in the preservation of linguistic diversity, the revitalization of linguistic communities and the promotion of multilingualism.[23]

Ekushey Heritage Award

Four photos of people holding plaques
Recipients of the 2015 BHESA Ekushey Heritage Award

The annual Ekushey Heritage Award, introduced in 2014 by the Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta (BHESA), recognizes outstanding achievement in fields such as education, social work, and community service. The award is announced on International Mother Language Day.[24][25][19]

Ekushey Youth Award

The Ekushey Youth Award, introduced in 2015 by Alberta's Mahinur Jahid Memorial Foundation (MJMF) and announced on IMLD, is awarded annually to recipients who inspire youth in the fields of education, sports, youth activities, literature, and community service. The award is open Alberta residents.[26]

  • International Mother Language Day Celebration in Dhaka
    International Mother Language Day Celebration in Dhaka
  • Celebration, 21 February 2018
    Celebration, 21 February 2018
  • Poster with writing
    2017 International Mother Language Day celebration in Bangalore
  • Group of people holding signs and banners
    2015 Mother Tongue Day in Islamabad, with demonstrators demanding that Punjabi (the mother tongue of most Pakistanis) be made an official language of Pakistan
  • People sitting and standing in a circle, with an inset photo of four men
    Ekushey Book Fair in Alberta, Canada

See also

References

  1. ^ "The General Conference proclaim"International Mother Language Day" to be observed on 21 February". unesdoc.unesco.org. 16 November 1999. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Links to documents". Un.org. 9 September 2002. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Ingles. Cuerpo de Maestros. Temario Para la Preparacion de Oposiciones .e-book,. MAD-Eduforma. pp. 97–. ISBN 978-84-665-6253-9.
  4. ^ Rahim, Abdur (19 September 2014). Canadian Immigration and South Asian Immigrants. Xlibris Corporation. pp. 102–. ISBN 978-1-4990-5874-1.
  5. ^ "International Mother Language Day Celebration". Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "International Mother Language Day". United Nations. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Islam, Syed Manzoorul (1994). Essays on Ekushey: The Language Movement 1952 (in Bengali). Dhaka: Bangla Academy. ISBN 984-07-2968-3.
  8. ^ "Languages in Education | Education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". Portal.unesco.org. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "International Mother Language Day Celebration 2015". Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ 2019 - International Year of Indigenous Languages UNESCO
  11. ^ City TV, Diverse-City 02.25.14, YouTube, February 25, 2014, Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  12. ^ a b Riya Karin & Shoha Islam, "Journey to Inclusion in & through Education: Language Counts" Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Bangladesh PressClub Centre of Alberta (BPCA), Published February 20, 2015 in the Mother Language Magazine 2015 (Page 31), Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  13. ^ Professor Kabir Choudhury, "21st February: International Mother Language Day" Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Bangladesh PressClub Centre of Alberta (BPCA), Published February 20, 2015 in the Mother Language Magazine 2015 (Page 34), Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  14. ^ "International Mother Language Day". Un.org. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Jonathan and Prithwi Raj, Ekushe February (instrumental), YouTube, February 21, 2012, Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  16. ^ "International Mother Language Day Act". Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Bill C-573 (Historical)". Openparliament.ca. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "iPage". Motherlanguageday.ca. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ a b "Int'l Mother Language Day observed at Edmonton". Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "भारतवाणी". भारतवाणी. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  21. ^ "International Mother Language Day: India to protect and promote 22 scheduled Indian languages through digitization of content". Merinews.com. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "22 Indian scheduled languages to go digital on International Mother Language Day on Feb 21 | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Dnaindia.com. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "Inici - Linguapax Internacional". Linguapax.net. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta". Bhesa.ca. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "International Mother Language Day observed at Edmonton, Canada". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 28 February 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Mahinur Jahid Memorial Foundation (MJMF) - Ekushey Youth Awards". MJMF.org. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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