International Mother language Day, Mother language Day

 

  Language day

International Mother Language Day is an observance held every year on February 21st to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999 and has been celebrated annually since 2000.

The day commemorates the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in Bangladesh, where students and activists protested against the imposition of Urdu as the official language of East Pakistan. On February 21, 1952, police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Dhaka, resulting in the deaths of several protesters. The event served as a catalyst for the Bengali Language Movement and eventually led to the recognition of Bengali as an official language in East Pakistan and later, the independent nation of Bangladesh.

International Mother Language Day aims to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, encourage the preservation of endangered languages, and promote the use of mother tongues in education and everyday life. It also aims to raise awareness of the importance of language in fostering mutual understanding and respect among different cultures and communities.