Mother Language Day is part of a broader initiative "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world" as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 May 2007 in UN resolution 61/266,[3] which also established 2008 as the International Year of Languages.[4][5][6][7]
The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of
Bangladesh.
21 February was declared to be International Mother Language Day by UNESCO on 17 November 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 geographically separate parts:
East Pakistan (currently known as
Bangladesh) and
West Pakistan (currently known as
Pakistan). The two parts were very different from each other in the sense of culture and language, and were also separated by India in between.
In 1948, the 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 and West 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. 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.
Abdus Salam,
Abul Barkat,
Rafiq Uddin Ahmed,
Abdul Jabbar and
Shafiur Rahman died, with hundreds of others injured. This was a rare incident in history, where people sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue.[9][10]
Since then, Bangladeshis celebrate the International Mother Language Day as one of their tragic days. They visit the
Shaheed Minar, a monument built in memory of the martyrs and its replicas to express their deep sorrow, respect and gratitude to them.[citation needed][11][12]
International Mother Language Day is a
national holiday in Bangladesh. The resolution was suggested by
Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam, Bengalis living in
Vancouver, Canada. They 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.
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[13]
Rafiqul Islam's proposal was introduced in the
Bangladesh parliament and in due course (at the behest of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina) 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 by
Syed Muazzem Ali, then Bangladesh ambassador to France and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, and
Tozammel Tony Huq, his predecessor, who was then a Special Adviser to UNESCO Secretary General
Federico Mayor. Finally on 17 November 1999, the 30th General Assembly of UNESCO unanimously resolved that "21st February be proclaimed International Mother Language Day throughout the world to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this very day in 1952."[14]
1999: UNESCO proclaims 21 February (Ekushey February) as International Mother Language Day
2000: Inaugural celebration of International Mother Language Day[citation needed]
2002: Linguistic-diversity theme, featuring 3,000 endangered languages (motto: In the galaxy of languages, every word is a star.)[citation needed]
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".[16]
2024: Annual theme: "Multilingual education - a pillar of learning and
intergenerational learning"
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.[30]
Bangladeshis celebrate International Mother Language Day by placing flowers at the
Martyrs' Monument and its replicas.[31] A public holiday in the country since 1953,[32] 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.[33] Bangladeshis organize social gatherings honoring their language and culture, hold literary competitions, draw
alpana on the roads, eat festive meals and listen to songs.[31][34]Bangla Academy arranges
Ekushey Book Fair in
Dhaka for the whole month of February.[35]
In 2015,
British Columbia and
Manitoba issued proclamations observing International Mother Language Day on 21 February.[38]Edmonton observed International Mother Language Day on 21 February 2017.[39]
Edmonton Ekushey observed by Bangladesh Heritage & Ethnic Society and Diverse Edmonton with due respect in Edmonton on 23 February 2020.[40]
As part of 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.[43][44][45]
United States
The
Mother Tongue Film Festival in Washington, D.C., has been held since 2017 to coincide with Mother Languages Day.
United Kingdom
A replica of Dhaka's Shaheed Minar was built in London in 1999 in
Altab Ali Park,
Whitechapel. Members of the community come here to mark International Mother Language Day by laying wreaths and singing revolutionary songs.[46][47]
There is also a Shaheed Minar replica in Westwood, Greater Manchester. Community members come from across North England to mark International Mother Language Day at the monument.[48]
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.[49]
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.[50][51][39]
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.[52]
Gallery
International Mother Language Day Celebration in Dhaka, with the
Martyr's Monument in the background
Celebration, 21 February 2018
International Mother Language day celebration at the
University of Calcutta Alipore campus in 2018
2017 International Mother Language Day celebration in
Bangalore
2015 Mother Tongue Day in Islamabad, with demonstrators demanding that Punjabi (the mother tongue of most Pakistanis) be made an official language of Pakistan