International Mother Language Day on February 21, 2025, was commemorated worldwide including India and JK UT, with enthusiasm and devotion. This Day is annually celebrated on this day all across the world. The Day is about to raise awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism, as it is very important to promote and preserve linguist diversity and to love, do respect all languages. Mother Language Day is part of the larger campaign "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by people in the world", as it was adopted on May 16,2007, by UNGA in a UN resolution declaring the year 2008 the International year of languages. Languages provide the primary mode of communication in the society, there are over 8000 languages in the world, and each and every language provides an essential mode of communication. All languages are important forms of communication, and should not be language hate, language chauvinism. In fact, one language enriches the other; each and every language is an essential means of communication, means of information and meaning.
It is critical to promote, preserve and protect all languages for the good of humanity. The use of language is inescapable. Languages are also key to education and to sustainable development by capably being used to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and preserve cultures. There are approximately 8,324 languages spoken in the world today, and many of them face extinction as a result of societal dynamics and globalization. Education can best be ensured when delivered through the medium of the mother tongue and therefore should be delivered in the mother tongue so our children can best comprehend the content and overall understanding. This is even true for higher studies and educational opportunity; education is better implemented and interpreted via the mother tongue since this translates easily into education and subsequently understanding. Improving learning experience and learning outcomes suggests delivering educational content in local languages serves learners best. Notably, researchers reinforce the idea that when students are educated in a language they understand, their comprehension and engagement improve, in addition to their capacity for critical thinking. With multilingual education, especially in relation to the education of minority or indigenous languages benefits not only the learners, but also establishes and forms a deeper connection between education and cultures leading to more open and equitable societies. For the transmitting ,preserving and developing the culture and heritage, education in ones mother tongue is needed and desirable. For the development and transmitting of literature, education in mother tongue is required.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, a quarter of a century to support the preservation of linguistic diversity and the promotion of mother languages. This milestone recognizes the importance of preserving languages to safeguard cultural heritage, contribute to education, and build peace. A group's, or community's, cultural identity is preserved through communication and education, of which mother language preservation is an aspect. As stated at the beginning of these remarks, International Mother Language Day was first proclaimed by UNESCO and subsequently adopted by the UNGA, recognizes the role of languages in promoting inclusion and achieving sustainable development nevertheless multilingual education does. Multilingual education supports inclusive societies not just through the preservation of non-dominant, minority and indigenous languages but as an educational approach for providing equitable access to education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. Languages are of strategic importance for people and planet, particularly given the implications these have on identity, communication and social integration, development and education. However, due to processes of globalization, languages are increasingly at risk of becoming endangered or disappearing completely. When a language dies, so dies the richness of a world filled with cultural diversity. When a language dies, opportunities, traditions, memories, and ways of thinking and expressing oneself- all valuable resources to build a better world - are also lost.
A language goes extinct every two weeks, taking with it a complete cultural and intellectual legacy. UNESCO estimates there are 8,324 languages, spoken and signed. Approximately 7,000 of these languages are in current usage. Only a few hundred languages have been afforded even a place in the educational system and public domain of the world, and fewer than one hundred are in use digitally. Multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages, which carry and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures sustainably. International Mother Language Day is celebrated each year to support linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. The UNGA resolution A/RES/61/266 adopted on 16th May 2007 called on Member States "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world."
As part of the same resolution, the General Assembly designated 2008 as the International Year of Languages, with the purpose of promoting the idea of unity in diversity, and international understanding through multilingualism and multiculturalism, and named UNESCO to lead the various initiatives planned for the year. Today, there is ever-growing recognition that languages are a significant and central enabler of development, cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, and that languages are important in facilitating cooperation, working towards quality education for all, building inclusive knowledge societies, and preserving cultural heritage, as well as mobilizing political will to apply the benefits of science and technology to sustainable development. This day is celebrated in India as well, to perpetuate linguistic diversity and to protect and cultivate mother tongue languages globally. In particular, India recognizes India's linguistic diversity and acknowledges that "languages are not just a means of communication, but a lifestyle and an important reflection of the country's rich and valuable cultural heritage."
The idea of celebrating International Mother Language Day was initiated by Bangladesh. The concept was accepted at the 1999 General Conference of UNESCO, and it has been observed around the world since 2000. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity in support of sustainable development and societies. Around the world, 40 percent of people do not have access to education in a language they speak or understand. UNESCO is making a call to the international community as a whole to promote multilingualism, to promote the richness and diversity of our linguistic heritage as a cornerstone for lasting peace. In India, all of our government, NGO's, political parties and the public at large, must work to preserve, promote and develop languages and the preservation of linguistic diversity in the midst of total diversity as India can remain the peace and tranquility through the promotion and preservation of its diversity. We must ensure education to children in their mother language for better learner outcome and understanding and comprehension. We should not only observe 21st February as the International Mother Language Day as a formality but make sincere resolve to foster the idea and need of promoting, preserving and protecting all the languages of India so that linguistic diversity and cultural heritage is preserved and is transmitted through the means of the mother language.
(Vivek Koul and Omkar Dattatray)
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