Month: February 2017

    Proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in November 1999, 21 February has been observed as International Mother Language Day every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. On 21 February 1952, students demonstrating for recognition of Bangla vehemently refuting the rulling then West Pakistan authorities’ decision as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan were gunned down by police in Dhaka, the capital of what is now Bangladesh and the then East Pakistan. So, does the then ruling West Pakistan, now Pakistan, observe the International Mother Language Day? How does it observe the day? Quoting Karachi-based journalist Monir Ahmed, BBC...

    The Indian state of West Bengal on Tuesday observed International Mother Language Day paying homage to those who laid down their lives for the cause of the Bengali language in Bangladesh in 1952. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter in Bengali, stressing the importance of each and every language. ‘Every language is equal. The mother tongue should be the medium to express one’s views. My respect to the martyrs,’ she said. In her homage, Banerjee highlighted the song ‘Ekusher Gaan’ which is popularly known for its opening line ‘Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Ranga Ekushey February, Aami Ki Bhulite Pari’ (How can I forget February 21, it is soaked in the blood of my brethren), that was composed in memory of the martyrs of the language movement. The day began with ‘prabhat pheri...