Dimapur, Feb 21: Governor PB Acharya called upon every citizen to promote and preserve our mother language in order to keep tradition and heritage alive.
In his message to the Naga public on the occasion of International Mother Tongue Day which is being observed on February 22, Acharya said mother language plays a very important role not only in developing initial understanding of a child but also as his first identity.
Stating that India has rich diversity of culture, languages and dialects, he urged all to respect diversity.‘Mother tongue is the first and foremost identity of each person. Our ancestors have given to us their valuable research and knowledge in our own mother tongue. No matter how many different languages one may master, his individuality will remain as a member of his mother tongue society. You are born with your mother tongue and pass away only with that identity,’ the Governor said in his message.
He also urged all to be proud of our mother language as it is our destiny, which we cannot change it. He said it is through the mother language, scientists have observed that we learn easily and correctly the basic things and attain the wisdom.
Pointing out that all our folklore and proverbs are in our mother tongue, he urged all to promote and preserve mother language in order to keep our tradition and heritage alive.
Meanwhile, Bangla Bhasha Prachar Ebong Prashar Samiti under the aegis of Bharat Sevashram Sangha observed the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) at Pranab Vidhyapith Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, on February 21.
Speaking on the occasion, the school principal, Manoj Bhattacharjee urged the students to protect their mother language saying their identity, culture and tradition are determined by mother tongue. He lamented that though there is opportunity in Nagaland to learn Bengali, students opting for Bengali is less.
Headmaster LK Das also encouraged the students to save their own mother languages.
Gurupada Maharaj of BSS (Kolkata), in his address, expressed sadness in the present era that people are neglecting their own languages and adopting the foreign ones. He said it is more sorrowful in a situation when parents boast about their children’s inability to communicate in their own languages.
Bengali is the fifth most spoken language in the world with an estimated population of around 25 crores.
