Members of four organizations namely, All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE), Campaign for Language Equality and Rights (CLEAR), Ao Senden Literature Board (ASLB) and C-Edge College Language Development Cell (CECLDC) held an intensive interactive session on promotion of mother tongue languages, on March 20, at C-Edge College, Dimapur.
During the session, several pertinent issues pertaining to the prevailing language situation in Nagaland were discussed.
CLEAR founder member Prof. Joga Singh shared about the positive impact in the learning process of a child, if the child is taught in his mother tongue. If the child develops a grasp of the grammar of his mother tongue, it can be easily replicated for learning any other second or third language, including foreign languages, he added.
ASLB Chairman, Prof. Lanunungsang Ao, shared about the low rate of science students in Nagaland which constitutes only about 5% of the total number. He viewed that such low abilities in science and math were largely attributable to learners not having proper grounding in their mother tongue while such subjects were taught at the school level.
AIRFTE, Presidium Member Prof. (Mrs.) Madhu Prasad, expressed the need to map the linguistic history and structure of Nagaland. She was of the view that no language should be imposed by any agency on any people. The Delhi Demand for Language Rights (February 2016) also demands the same that the Union Government or any it’s agencies should not impose any language or script on any people, either through direct or indirect incentives. And that the language community has the right to decide which script or scripts to use without any interference from the Union Govt. or any of its agencies.
Dr. Chubatola Aier highlighted the importance of bi-lingualism, with English as the necessary medium, and mother tongue as an integral component, in the context of Nagaland.
Further, the four organizations agreed to collaborate further on mother tongue development and promotion. The session came to a close with vote of thanks from President of C-Edge College, and members expressed looking forward to having a joint program at the College, during the next International Mother Language Day.