The International Mother's Language Day was observed across Tripura on Friday by organizing cultural programmes, patriotic, folk songs, poetry , cultural activities with colourful processions, functions, discussions, seminars and other programmes.

In Agartala, the main programme to mark the day was organized by the School Education department of Tripura, where Agriculture and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), Dipak Majumder,  director of ICA department, Bimbiwar Bhattacharjee, director Education department, N C Sharma, former VC of Tripura University Prof Arunodhoy Saha along with government officials were present.

Hundreds of students both from tribals and non-tribals communities and people from all walks of life organized a colourful rally in Agartala and took part in the main function held at Agartala Town Hall.

Addressing the programme, the Minister Ratan Lal Nath stressed on proper respect to all languages and termed mother language as valuable as mother’s milk.

Nath  addressing the event in Agartala marking the silver jubilee of International Mother Language Day has  interacted with students and youths in Kokborok and Bengali and said people from both Bengali and tribal communities speak in each other’s language in the state, thus ensuring solidarity.

Nath said Kokborok was ignored by those who were in the administration previously and he called upon students and youths attending the event to take an oath to enrich their mother languages and also respect each other’s languages.

 “I am not asking you to not learn English. It is a fact that the world is a global village. English is being used as a medium of communication at the international level. But why do we focus so much on English?” he said.

Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives the highest attention to the development of mother languages, the minister added that the New Education Policy has provisions for the development of indigenous languages.

Nath also said that the state government working for development of all languages and to achieve the target a separate department has already opened in the state.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala also observed the International Mother Language Day.

Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Arif Mohammad said, “It is our Saheed Dibosh (Martyrs Day) and the International Mother Language Day today. On this day in 1952, youths… saved the honour of the Bengali language by laying down their lives. Since then, we have observed the day with dignity. We have seen this day being celebrated with respect and dignity across all districts of the state. UNESCO recognised this day as International Mother Language Day in 2000.

He said the day was being observed in Bangladesh under the new regime of Chief Advisor Md Yunus.

The people of eastern India and Bangladesh played leading roles for the introduction of the International Mother Language Day in 1999 by UNESCO and  the people of Tripura have also paid their respect to the martyrs of the language movement in 1952.

Reports from other parts of the state said that the International Mother's Language Day pays floral tribute to memorial columns and different cultural programmes with fervour.