“When Our Words Refuse to Die: The Story of International Mother Language Day”
FEB-21: World Mother Tongue Day Every year on February 21, something quiet but powerful happens across the world. There are no fireworks. No loud celebrations. No grand parades. Yet, something deeply emotional moves in our hearts. It is International Mother Language Day , declared by UNESCO in 1999 and observed worldwide since 2000. This day is not just about language. It is about identity. It is about memory. It is about who we are when nobody is watching. And honestly, it is personal. A Story That Began With Courage Let us go back to 1952. The place was Dhaka , now the capital of Bangladesh . At that time, the government had declared that only one language would be recognized as the national language. But millions of people spoke Bengali. For them, their language was not just a tool. It was their soul. On February 21, students stepped out to protest peacefully. They demanded that their mother tongue, Bangla, be recognized. The protest turned tragic. Several students we...
