International Mother Language Day 2021: Vice President Promotes linguistic Diversity

Every year, International Mother Language Day is being observed on February 21 in a global perspective to promote and recognize the diversification of linguistic and culture and promote multilingualism. International Mother Language Day 2021 is an appeal to every teacher, educator, policymakers, parents, and educational institutions to increases proportionally and includes multilingual education in the advancement of educational recovery in this Covid 19 period. This year's theme is "Fostering Multilingualism for Inclusion in Education and Society".

International Mother Language Day 2021: Theme

The Theme of this year is, "Fostering Multilingualism for Inclusion in Education and Society".

The United Nations (UN) statement stated, "UNESCO believes education, based on the first language or mother tongue, must begin from the early years as early childhood care and education is the foundation of learning". 

The Director-General (UNESCO) said, "The theme of the Day this year, "Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society", thus encourages us to support multilingualism and the use of mother tongues, both at school and in everyday life. This is essential, because when 40% of the world's inhabitants do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best, it hinders their learning, as well as their access to heritage and cultural expressions. This year, special attention is being paid to multilingual education from early childhood, so that for children, their mother tongue is always an asset."

The History:

The Idea was first initiated in Bangladesh. In 1999 on the month of November, UNESCO's general conference made a decision to observe February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. The general assembly of the United Nations in 2002 mostly welcomed the decision and in 2007, on May 16, the assembly put forward the member state through a resolution which is in promoting of the protection and preservation of each and every language which is spoken across the world.

The Significance:

On this auspicious occasion, the UN statement read that in this modern world, people are more aware that for development, language plays a crucial role to secure the diversification of culture and their several dialogues. Along with it, it also strengthens co-operation and helps in acquiring better education for every section of children, it helps in the preservation of cultural heritage and building a knowledgeable society that helps to mobilize the political will power to apply the advantages of science and technology in sustainable development. 

Why MatriBhasha or native language is important?

When an infant is born then he or she is already blessed with the qualities of perception, attention, memory, and sensation. The language that we speak or hear first right after our birth is a lot to do with our personality development and our thinking process. As a child is born, it is his or her mother that first communicates with the one and so the language used by her is referred to as the mother tongue. UNESCO believes that language is not just a means or mode of communication but the things we believe, the way we behave, our values and manners all are the reflection of our language. Sometimes when we speak in our native language, we can feel a connection between our tongue, heart, and brain. That is because it is our own mother tongue that we can dream, think, and feel our emotions.

Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu in linguistic diversity:

As International Mother Language Day is being observed across the world on February 21, the honourable Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman, M Venkaiah Naidu encouraged everyone that they should promote their use of their own mother tongue. On this day, he took to Twitter in several languages spoken in India to expand his message.

"My greetings on International #MotherLanguageDay. Linguistic diversity has always been one of the foundational pillars of our civilization. More than just a means of communication, our mother languages connect us with our heritage and define our socio-cultural identity," he tweeted in English.

"We must promote the use of mother tongue in all spheres - from primary education to governance. We must encourage the creative expression of our thoughts and ideas in our own languages!" he added.

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