International Mother Language Day

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Shaheed Minar, or the Martyr's monument, located at Dhaka University Campus, Bangladesh, commemorates the sacrifice for Bengali Language on 21 February 1952

International Mother Language Day is an observance held annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. Its observance was also formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.^[1]

International Mother Language Day has been observed every year since 2000 February 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.

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999 (30C/62).On 16 May 2009 the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/61/266 called upon Member States "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world". By the same resolution, the General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism.

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. 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. ^[2]

Contents   [hide]  1 Timeline 2 International observances 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit]Timeline

See also: Language Movement Day

• A timeline of events

• 2000, Inaugural celebration of International Mother Language Day
• 2001, Second annual celebration
• 2002, Linguistic Diversity: 3,000 Languages in Danger (slogan: In the galaxy of languages, every word is a star)
• 2003, Fourth annual celebration
• 2004, Children learning (the observance at UNESCO included "a unique exhibition of children's exercise books from around the world illustrating the process by which children learn and master the use of written literacy skills in the classroom"^[3])
• 2005, Braille and Sign languages
• 2006, Languages and Cyberspace
• 2007, Multilingual education
• 2008, International Year of Languages
• 2009, tenth annual celebration
• 2010, International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
• 2011, The information and communication technologies
• 2012, Mother tongue instruction and inclusive education

[edit]International observances

International Mother Language Day Monument, Ashfield Park, Sydney, Australia. Unveiling ceremony, 19-Feb-2006

• The Linguapax Prize is presented annually on International Mother Language Day.
• UNESCO sets the theme for each International Mother Language Day and holds related events at its headquarters in Paris on or around 21 February each year.
• In 2008, the International Year of Languages was formally launched on International Mother Language Day.

[edit]See also

Holidays portal

• Language Movement Day
• Language festival
• Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights
• Official languages of the United Nations

[edit]References

1. ^ U.N. General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Agenda item 114, Resolution adopted by the General Assembly, 61/266. Multilingualism (A/RES/61/266)
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ UNESCO, "International Mother Language Day 2004"

[edit]External links

• History of International Mother Language Day
• Facebook Page of International Mother Language Day
• UNESCO homepage for International Mother Language Day
• Video by Shahjahan Siraj/ Machizo Multimedia on 21 February: Spot 2008
• UN Information Resources
• Official related page from Bangladesh
• UNESCO Education (includes links to information on past IMLD observances)
• Special Supplement on International Mother Language Day by Bangladesh Embassy in the Netherlands
• International Mother Language Day Photo Contest 2012
• The Makers of History: International Mother Language Day

[hide] v   t   e Bengali Language Movement History and events Bengali nationalism   Bengali Language Movement   Partition of India   1947 Partition of Bengal   East Pakistan   Bengal Constituent Assembly of Pakistan   Tamaddun Majlish   Shorbodolio Kendrio Rashtrobhasha Kormi Porishod Rashtrabhasa Sangram Parishad   Role of political parties during Bengali Language Movement Urdu movement Pakistaner Rashtra Bhasha: Bangla Na Urdu? People Abul Barkat   Abdul Jabbar   Sofiur Rahman   Abdus Salam   Rafiq Uddin Ahmed   Dhirendranath Datta   Khwaja Nazimuddin Muhammad Ali Jinnah   Hamidur Rahman   Abul Kashem   Shamsul Huq   Nurul Huq Bhuiyan   Liaquat Ali Khan   Mohammad Toaha Abdul Matin   Abdul Malek Ukil   A. K. Fazlul Huq   Maulana Bhashani   Kabi M.A.N Shahidullah Shahittaratno   Oli Ahad   Abul Hashim Shawkat Ali   Abul Kalam Shamsuddin   Kazi Golam Mahboob   Gaziul Haque   Muhammad Habibur Rahman Mahbub Ul Alam Choudhury   Zahir Raihan   Mohammad Sultan   Abdul Latif   Altaf Mahmud   Muhammad Shahidullah   Nurul Amin Ayub Khan   Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish   Sheikh Mujibur Rahman   Munier Chowdhury Commemoration Ekushey Book Fair   Shaheed Minar   Ekushey Padak   Language Movement Day   International Mother Language Day Moder Gorob   Artistic depictions of the Bengali Language Movement   Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano

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