To recognize the native and mother languages across the world, February 21 is celebrated as International Mother Language Day.
History and significance
In t1952, people of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) started a campaign to protect their mother language, “Bangla.”
During the India and Pakistan partition in 1947, the population of Bangla-speaking East Pakistan was more than West Pakistan. They protested to have Bangla as their official language, but the government of Pakistan during that time tried to force Urdu upon the whole nation.
East Pakistan fought for their mother tongue, leading to the eventual formation of a new country, which today is known as Bangladesh.
Today’s importance
A child learns their mother tongue through the love and affection of their mother.
The mother language not only introduces children to their heritage and culture, but also helps them understand the world.
As per the 2021 census data of Statistics Canada, Punjabi is the fourth most spoken mother language in Canada.
“Although the Punjabi language is flourishing in Canada, many have inferiority complex while speaking Punjabi in the state of Punjab in India.”
Punjabi poet, Surjit Kaur
According to Nazeer Kahut, Punjabi language movement founder, the Punjabi mother language declined rapidly in Pakistan’s Punjab compared to Indian Punjab.
Kahut’s organization is working to protect Punjabi in Pakistan.
“We want the Punjab government to implement the Punjabi Language Act and to make Punjabi as a medium of instruction in all educational institutions. But instead of recognizing our demands, the previous government of Pakistan Punjab implemented an Urdu Language Act, which finished any scope we had for Punjabi language in Pakistan.”
Nazeer Kahut
Language is not just a means of communication; it carries a whole civilization in it which is handed down from one generation to another. Therefore, it is very important to preserve the rich heritage through our language.
“Until we sit with our elders to learn about our customs and traditions, our knowledge remains hollow. Our elders are keepers of knowledge and wisdom.”
Surjit Kaur
Kahut says the Punjabi language is still divided among scripts and religions.
There is still work to be done to improve the emerging status of Punjabi in Canada, for which people from both Punjabs need to come together.
