Advisor urges to promote mother tongue

WOKHA — Describing mother tongue as a gift from the ancestors and identity of one’s community, the advisor of Agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan, called upon the Lotha community to promote their mother tongue and use them in major programmes and events.

Yanthan stated this during the Lotha language festival jointly organised by Lotha Academy and Lotha Naga Cultural Resource Centre, Mount Tiyi College, at Don Bosco Youth Resource Center in Wokha town on Saturday. Stating that Lotha language festival is first of its kind, he appreciated the organisers for honouring Lotha language and expressed optimism with such initiative the Lotha community would give priority on use of its mother tongue.

Emphasising on the importance of language and its identity, Yanthan informed that the National Education Policy (NEP) has given due importance to all languages where the mother tongue has become mandatory in the education system. Stating that Lotha language is a rich language, he called upon the congregation to preserve and use it as a primary language in major programmes and events.

He also encouraged the community to keep writing books in Lotha and felt that the community should now introduce Lotha language in higher education (college/ university levels).

He appreciated the students for their participation and encouraged them to give priority in using Lotha language at home.

The festival witnessed folktale presented by Bijamo Erui and Yitsomo Murry, while competitions in poetry recitation, spelling bee, skit and folksong were participated by students from various schools and colleges in Wokha town.