21st February is the International Mother Language Day
One of the fragile and intangible heritages is the mother languages. There are thousands of languages spoken around the world but many are in threat due to the presence of some of the strong languages. We know that languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and the planet.
Globally every two weeks a language disappears taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that there are 8,324 languages, spoken or signed. Out of these, around 7,000 languages are still in use. Only a few hundred languages have genuinely been given a place in education systems and the public domain, and less than a hundred are used in the digital world.
In India there are many mother languages but 22 languages are under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution which includes Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
We have seen that multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages, which transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way. We have seen how the linguistic landscape has undergone profound change in recent years, shaped by increased migration, rapid technological development, and growing recognition of the cognitive, social, and economic benefits of multilingualism.
Today, multilingualism is increasingly understood not only as a social reality but as a fundamental human characteristic and a powerful educational approach. Young people play a vital role in this evolution by defending and revitalising languages, creating digital content, and using technology to make linguistic diversity more visible and valued.
At the same time, significant challenges remain, as 40% of learners worldwide still lack access to education in a language they understand best, with indigenous, migrant, and minority youth most affected. Addressing this gap requires education policies and practices that embed multilingual education at their core to promote inclusion, equity, and effective learning for all.
International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is observed every year on 21st February to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999. The idea to celebrate IMLD was the initiative of Bangladesh. The United Nations General Assembly welcomed the proclamation of the day in its resolution of 2002.
The International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) aims to ensure indigenous peoples’ right to preserve, revitalize and promote their languages. It offers an opportunity to collaborate in the areas of policy development and stimulate a global dialogue and to take necessary measures for the usage, preservation, revitalization and promotion of indigenous languages around the world. Indigenous languages also promote local cultures, customs and values which have endured for thousands of years. Indigenous languages add to the rich tapestry of global cultural diversity.
This year’s IMLD highlights the role of young people in shaping the future of multilingual education. Youth voices on multilingual education emphasize that language is more than a means of communication: it is central to identity, learning, well-being and participation in society.
The New Education Policy in India has also emphasized mother language as medium of instruction in the elementary level. Many native languages have been introduced as a medium of instructions.
There cannot be any medium better than mother language but the challenge in a country like India is that many choose English as the medium.
We may be taught in any mediums but it is important for us to safeguard the mother languages as it is an intangible heritage and when language is lost then cultures and civilizations are also lost.
(With direct inputs from UN publications and feedback may be send to bkranjan@gmail.com)
Ranjan K Baruah
Ganeshguri,Guwahati.