Date: 21 Feb 2019
Venue: Bangladesh High Commission, Chanakyapuri

United Nations has declared 21st February as International Mother Language Day. This is in ode to then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) people who were killed in 1952 while protesting against imposition of Urdu as the sole national language of that country. It is a worldwide observance to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and encourage multilinguism.

International Mother Language Day 2019 was observed through a panel discussion and cultural program at Bangladesh High Commission at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The High Commissioner addressed the audience and spoke about the necessity of promoting and propagating mother languages all across the world.

The cultural program started with a recitation. This was followed by the iconic song marking the event – “Amar bhaier rokte rangano ekushe February” by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury. This song was presented by the staff of the High Commission. The main cultural program was a song-dance ensemble by artists from Delhi and Kolkata. They presented patriotic Bangla numbers composed by Tagore, Nazrul Islam, Mukunda Das and Nazrul Islam Babu. Notwithstanding many in the Indian audience did not follow the lyrics, the sentiments conveyed by these numbers seemed to touch everybody in the audience. The evening concluded with snacks and beverages.

It is a sad fact that in a polyglot country like India, English rules the roost. Not knowing the Queen’s language is seen as an embarrassment. But why? The Indian Constitution accords equal status to all languages of the country. Language gives us our identity and brings out the exciting diversity that we in India show to the world. The International Mother Language Day is a reminder to that and we are proud to have been part of this event.