AGARTALA, February 21 (TIWN): Along with the rest of the world, the International Mother Language Day is being observed here in Tripura too. The main function at the initiative of Directorate of School Education is being held at Rabindra Satabarsiki Bhawan. 2015 is the 15th anniversary of International Mother Language Day. The theme for this year is “Inclusive Education through and with Language – Language Matters". The day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educations, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. The United Nations General Assembly, on May 2007, called upon its member states "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world." The concept of the 'International Mother language Day' was thus created.Prof. Maitrayee Dutta, while talking to TIWN, has opined that that if due importance is not given to a language, the language will be near extinction. “Why only Bangla language we should respect all the languages and set ourselves free from the shackles of superstitions and believe in theme of oneness”, further added the Head of Bangla Department of Tripura Central University

On this occasion of International Mother Language Day, while talking to this correspondent, Professor  Dr. Maitrayee Dutta (Head of Department of Bengali of  Tripura Central University), has said: “We need to make an assessment as what was our expectation and how much we have obtained at the outset of  International Mother Language Day, sixty three years ago because we had envisaged that breaking the narrow domain of religion only language will unify us all irrespective of any ethnic identity.”

Prof  Dr. Maitrayee Dutta, Tripura Central University

The first observance of the day was marked in February 2000 in order to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism in the world. The date 21 February has a great significance in history as it represents the day in 1952 when two students demonstrating for the recognition of Bangla as one of the two official languages in Pakistan were shot dead by police in Dhaka, which was then called 'East Pakistan'. The Indian subcontinent is predominantly rich for her pragmatic civilisation, cultural aristocracy and ethnic diversity. And language, which is, the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage, has also its roots here in India only. “See we must remember that people not from Bangla land only sacrificed their lives for their mother language … on May 19 of 1961 eleven persons sacrificed their lives for their mother language in Barak Valley of Kachar district and in our state Dhananjoy Tripura on March 23,1975 became a matryr for the sake of Kokborok language ”, further added Professor Dutta.

 All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues 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.