International
Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to
promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote
multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally
recognized by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of UN
resolution 56/262 Multilingualism in 2002.
History
When
Pakistan was created in 1947, it had two geographically separate 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. The East Pakistan people protested, since the majority of
their mother language was Bangla. They demanded Bangla to be at least one of
the national languages, in addition to Urdu. The demand was raised first by
Dhirendranath Datta from East Pakistan on 23 February 1948, in the constituent
Assembly of Pakistan.
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 causing deaths and injury of several people. This
is a rare incident in history, where people sacrificed their lives for their
mother tongue.
International
Mother Language Day resolution was suggested by Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam,
Bengalis living in Vancouver, Canada. They wrote a letter to Kofi Annan asking
him to take a step for saving the world's languages from extinction. Rafiqul
Islam's proposal was introduced in the Bangladesh parliament and in due course
a formal proposal was submitted to UNESCO by the Government of Bangladesh. The
process of shepherding the proposal through UNESCO's regulatory system was
undertaken. Finally on 17 November 1999 the 30th General Assembly of UNESCO
unanimously resolved.
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.
Timeline
1952: Bengali Language Movement
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".
2005: Braille and sign languages
2006: Languages and cyberspace
2007: Multilingual education
2013: Books for mother-tongue education
2014: Local languages for global
citizenship: spotlight on science
2018: Our languages, our assets.
2019: International Year of Indigenous
Languages
2020: Safeguarding linguistic diversity
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, India, Russia, the Philippines, Egypt and Canada.