Source: PIB
The Matritbaha Diwas( International Mother Language Day) which falls on 21st February was celebrated by the HRD Ministry across the country.
The Matritbaha Diwas in India
- The theme of the programme: ‘Celebrating our Multilingual Heritage’ reflecting the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
- MHRD along with educational institutions and language institutions is celebrating the Matribhasha Diwas for the past three years.
- India has unparalleled linguistic and cultural diversity and fittingly, it is proposed to observe in India 21st February 2020 for events that promote our languages and the associated diversity of usage and literature.
- It has been decided to celebrate Matribhasha Diwas on 21.2.2020 every year, to promote the use of mother tongues and to achieve the following objectives:
- Highlight the linguistic diversity of our country;
- Encourage usage, not only of the respective mother tongue but other Indian languages as well.
- To understand and draw attention to the diversity of cultures in India and the consequent forums of literature, craft, performing arts, scripts and other forms of creative expression.
- To encourage the learning of languages other than one’s own mother tongue.
About International Mother Language Day (IMLD)
- International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is a worldwide annual observance forming a part of UNESCO’s calendar of events, held on 21st February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
- It was first announced by UNESCO on 17th November 1999.
- It was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2008.
- The latter called upon its member states to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by people of the world.
