International Mother Language Day observed in Lakhimpur district

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LAKHIMPUR: The International Mother Language Day was observed in the Lakhimpur district on Monday. Notably, this United Nations' designated day recognises that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals' focuses on leaving no one behind. This year, the theme of the event is 'Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities'.

The North Lakhimpur town branch unit of Senior Citizens' Association observed the event jointly with Ujjwalpur High School in a befitting manner. The agenda of the event started with an extensive cleaning drive inaugurated by Headmaster Punyeswar Baruah. It was followed by a plantation drive which was inaugurated by Dr. Hitendra Kumar Dutta, the retired Joint Director of Agriculture Department. Retired Chief Manager, State Bank of India, Kula Nath Bhorali administered the swahid tarpan programme.

The open session of the event commenced with School Management and Development Committee president-cum-retired Planning Officer Ananta Bhuyan in the chair. It was inaugurated by Padmeswar Chutia, a prominent social activist-cum-retired headmaster of Ujjwalpur High School. Retired Associate Professor of Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, Dr. Naba Krishna Rajkhowa attended the programme as appointed speaker.

Dr. Rajkhowa explained the significance of the event, importance of learning mother language, threats to the mother language spoken by communities with small population, importance of digital education in connection of the event. Senior journalist Sailen Baruah, North Lakhimpur Press Club president Kumud Baruah, Uttar Lakhimpur Xahitya Xabha president Dr. Premananda Howborah, retired professor Narern Sarmah delivered lectures as invited guests.

They highlighted the present digital status of the Assamese language and the challenges it had been facing while receiving recognition from Unicode Standard Consortium. Attending the event as another speaker, journalist Ranjit Kakati threw light into this year's theme of the event. "According to the United Nations, the theme of the event raises the potential role of technology to advance multilingual education and support the development of quality teaching and learning for all," he said while explaining the technological challenges of imparting and learning multilingual education in Assam. The meeting laid stress on digital advancement of Assamese language, the script of which has, till date, been clubbed under the Bengali script, owing to various faults including the Government of India recommendation in 1991. All Assam Unemployed Association general secretary Jiban Rajkhowa, educationist Dr. Bonti Gogoi Howborah and many other prominent persons of Lakhimpur were among those who were present in the programme wherein the students of the school presented various cultural programmes including Bihu dance.

SILCHAR: Braving the untimely rain, Silchar, the city of eleven language martyrs saw a befitting observance of International Mother language Day on Monday. A padayatra or rally was brought out in the evening. The rally, convened by Bhasha Aain Suraksha Samity, was attended mainly by some left organisations along with the representatives from Congress and TMC. Prof Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, former vice chancellor of Assam University spoke on the occasion.

Sammilita Sangskritik Sangha, a platform of almost 30 cultural organisations of Silchar organised a seminar where leading journalist from Meghalaya Padmasree Patricia Mukhim gave a speech online. Barak Upatyaka Bango Sahitya O Samskriti Sammelon observed the day with various programmes.

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