By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Mumbai: Indian Urdu language enthusiasts have been asked to remember 15th anniversary of ‘International Mother Language Day’ in favour of ‘Urdu’ language by organizing programmes, seminars and debates.
As per the proclamation of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), every year February 21 is observed around the world as ‘International Mother Language Day’ since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. As per the United Nations, the theme for 2015 is ‘Inclusive Education through and with Language-Language Matters’.
Little girl at Shreeshitalacom Lower Secondary School in Kaski, Nepal leads class in pronunciation of alphabet. (Courtesy: http://www.un.org/)
“Let’s remember February 21 for uplifting Urdu language by organising many programmes at different forums and remove some of the misconceptions regarding this sweet language,” a press release from Ashfaque Umar, president Muhammad Umar Educational Research Centre, a Malegaon (Maharashtra)-based organisation, said here.
“There is an utmost need to hold programmes for the people and inform them about the importance of great Urdu language which is being neglected in the modern days,” he said, adding “For this purpose, we are suggesting following programmes that may be observed/celebrated while observing the day (International Mother Language Day) for the recognition of Urdu language.”
Following actions are suggested by the above Centre that may be observed on February 21:
1. Impart need and importance of Mother Language amongst people by organizing programs at social level.
2. Counter false propaganda against Urdu language that there are no job opportunities if education is sought in this language.
3. Quote educationists where they stressed for obtaining initial learning in the mother tongue of pupil.
4. Organize seminars at school and college levels for the heritage of Urdu language.
5. Hold debates and essays on the topic centering ‘Urdu language’ so as to increase more awareness amongst people regarding the poetic language.
6. To publish good books for children in Urdu language on various topics. Considering the developing technologies in the world, educative and more talkative stories should be included in the books.
7. To urge social media users to use ‘Urdu’ as a medium of communication over Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp etc.
8. Newspapers and other online news portals be urged to specifically publish articles to promote Urdu language by writing on its history and contribution of it in poetry.
9. Pupils in schools be asked to write a letter to their relatives on post card in Urdu language to celebrate International Mother Language Day on February 21.
International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the UNESCO in November 1999.
On May 16, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution called upon Member States “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world.”
Since February 2000, the International Mother Language Day has been observed every year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. The date represents the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan, were shot and killed by police in Dhaka, the capital of what is now Bangladesh.
UNESCO says on its website: “Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage.”
It also stresses upon importance of promoting such languages by saying: “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”.