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Language is the core of culture, heritage and traditional knowledge of a nation. It is the stitch that binds together humanity and embroiders the connecting fabric of human beings. In old civilisations such as those found in South Asia, language is the very essence of local knowledge and all that is indigenous and ingenious. According to the lived-in experience of human beings, each language has been formed with the influence of diverse factors, and evolved over time to become what it is today. A country to whom language signifies their very nationhood is Bangladesh. The commemoration of the International Mother Language Day on Tuesday 21 February is a significant and dedicated event to all Bangladeshis the world over, celebrating the importance and relevance of respecting all languages of the world belonging to different people. The origin of International Mother Language Day dates back to 1999 when few Bangladeshis in Canada made a petition to UNESCO proposing that every 21 February should be commemorated as the International Mother Language Day. Following much deliberations, 28 countries co-sponsored and unanimously adopted a Resolution which all SAARC countries also co-sponsored.
The unanimous mandate given by the UN for this, was in recognition of a very integral part of human values, humanitarianism and the promoting of our shared human culture through language. Thus, this day – International Mother Language Day – is now observed on 21 February also in celebration of around 7,000 languages documented in the world so far. Below is the interview with the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam on the 2023 International Mother Language Day theme, celebrated in Sri Lanka as ‘Unity in Diversity,’ focusing on the significance of language as a tool of history, culture, traditional knowledge, heritage, and above all, peace.
Before taking up the position of High Commissioner to Bangladesh in Sri Lanka on 28 November 2020, he served as the Deputy Permanent Representative in the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York from 2016 to 2020.
A career diplomat who joined the Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1998, Mr. Islam had already worked in the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York as First Secretary/Counsellor and served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh as Director-General (South Asia). Taking a special interest in the areas of international peace, security, regional cooperation, human rights and migration, he currently focuses on diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh that maximises cultural, economic and trade potential of both countries. He holds a Master of Diplomacy and Trade from the Monash University, Australia and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Below are excerpts of the interview:
By Surya Vishwa
Q: The theme of this year’s International Mother Language Day celebration in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka is: ‘Mother Language: Unity in Diversity.’ Could you speak of this significance?
International Mother Language Day is observed across the world on 21 February to promote and preserve mother languages and highlight the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity. It also serves to preserve traditional knowledge and cultures as every mother language is the carrier of indigenous wisdom, heritage, and cultural identity. Languages weave a beautiful tapestry of togetherness stitching across this diversity. Our humble effort in partnership with the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, the UN system in Sri Lanka and other diplomatic missions, is to share these profound values in Sri Lanka –which also promotes multilingualism and cultural diversity. That is why we chose this theme.
According to the United Nations, an estimated 6,000 languages are spoken in the world and around 43% of them are endangered. Only a few hundred languages have been recognised in the national education systems. About 40% of the world’s population do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best. So, national education systems are an important vehicle for promoting and protecting mother languages.
The main feature in the observance of the International Mother Language Day here, as it is in other capitals too, is the involvement of children. With this in mind, the Bangladesh High Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka organises island-wide painting and creative writing competitions on language related themes for different age groups of students. The competitions are conducted both in Sinhala and Tamil considering the multilingual nature of diverse Sri Lankan society. We believe these competitions serve to deepen the attachment with mother-tongues and also encourage children to do creative thinking in their language and also by virtue of the theme, teach them to respect other’s mother language.
Hence, we thought that the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka should be our partner in the observance of the International Mother Language Day.
Q: The creation of Bangladesh is rooted in the concept of language above all other factors. Your comments?
We can term it as the ‘Right to speak Mother Language’. As it happened in 1952, our Bengali-speaking people did not want to sacrifice their mother language to a foreign language imposed on them. Thus, the Bengali Language Movement commenced, leading to Bengali or Bangla getting the status of our official language in 1956. Subsequently, the Language Movement catalysed the assertion of the Bengali national identity, sowed the seed of independence and was pivotal for the creation of Bangladesh.
Q: Today in Sri Lanka, as in other countries in South Asia, students are sent to study in international or private schools where the key focus is English and the first casualty is their mother tongue and the associated culture. Your comments?
While this is correct, at the same time, in today’s globalised and interconnected world, one cannot defy learning a lingua-franca. Your mother-tongue does give you the freedom to think indigenously. However, to empathise with other cultures, societies and value systems and to embrace this diversity, a lingua-franca provides you the interface. So, there is no harm in learning different languages as long as it is not at the cost of a mother tongue.
The English versus mother language debate is very old. Yet it is an ongoing one. Due to globalisation and commercialisation of the education system, we are often encouraged to get our children to pursue their studies in English. The practicality and rationale behind this trend is understandable. This does not necessarily mean that mother language and associated culture should be put at stake.
The way out should be to have children’s early learning in their mother-tongue which helps in developing their cognitive process. Learning first in the mother-tongue creates a stronger foundation for higher education even if in other languages. Overall it leads to better and lasting outcomes in future. Evidence suggests that English fulfils a necessary but not the essential condition in learning or knowledge generation.
So, we should encourage our children to realise and appreciate the importance of mother language so that they can spontaneously acquire a good command over their mother language first and then master other languages and lingua-franca. That is the ultimate spirit of International Mother Language Day.
Q: What are the activities that are organised to commemorate the Mother Language Day this year in Sri Lanka?
The Bangladesh High Commission in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka and some other Sri Lankan partners as well as the United Nations in Sri Lanka has been commemorating the International Mother Language Day in Colombo as a signature public event since 2015. Every passing year, the scale, scope, participation and outreach of the observance as well as interest about it have been growing.
Every year, we pick up a theme: Language for peace, harmony, stability and prosperity of all (in 2017); Language for Unity (2018, 2020); Celebrate Languages (2019); Language for Friendship (2021); Mother-Mother Language-Motherland (2022). One may observe a certain progression in the themes.
Next week on 21 February, the High Commission is observing the day at the Independence Square in the morning involving the wider Sri Lankan audience and projecting the spirit of pluralism, inclusion, multilingualism and multiculturalism. We will be joined by our collaborating partners, the Education Ministry of Sri Lanka, United Nations in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Scout Association. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will grace the event.
Participation of children and youth of diverse linguistic heritage and ethnicities would be the hallmark of the observance.
For this purpose, about two months back, island-wide painting and creative writing (essay and poetry) competitions for school children both in Sinhala and Tamil languages have been rolled out in consideration of Sri Lanka’s uniqueness. It was done by the Sri Lankan Education Ministry under our patronage. The winners will be announced at the event. The idea is to stimulate creative ideas and thoughts in children about their mother tongue and universality of languages.
Another highlight will be children’s multilingual performance—not only in Sinhala and Tamil and Bangla but also in other languages which will be facilitated by some diplomatic Missions in Colombo.
On this occasion, we are arranging a blood donation camp in collaboration with Sri Lanka Scout Association as a mark of respect to the blood shed by the Bangladesh Language Martyrs.
In addition, we have our own in-house program.
So, it is quite an elaborate observance.
Q: How best can language be used for increased empathy across the globe that would also benefit the general economy and trade spectrum?
Language is essentially a communication tool. We often fail to communicate due to our language barriers amongst us. We often exclude people with different cultures and languages, as “others” and we remain divided in multiple lines of differences. Through regular, meaningful communication and exchanges we could minimise the differences and feel connected with the people around the globe. Therefore, if we understand each other’s language better, this will increase empathy across the globe. As I have said earlier, a lingua-franca provides the interface to empathise with others.
Learning a second language or a lingua-franca opens a door to the concerned culture. It helps you understand the people, and their culture. It also creates opportunities for cultural fusion. When you know the lifestyle of a nation or a society you get to understand what they want, what their aspirations and economic interests are. Once we understand each other better, we communicate better and increase in trade and economic activities are the natural outcomes. Thus, communicating in a language which is spoken by people other than your own helps boost economy and trade and thereby economic prosperity.
Q: Spirituality and religion is also deeply linked to language – Arabic which is connected with Islam, Pali and Sanskrit with Buddhism, Vedic Sanskrit with Hinduism, and Aramic, Hebrew and Latin with Christianity. Could you speak of language being used as a part of tradition to bring people together rather than divide and how religion or spirituality which is part of intangible cultural heritage can be part of this goal?
Spirituality and religion may be linked to a language but people understand the concept of the divine entity, the purpose of the religion, and religious activities in their own language. Language differs according to the geography of the world. People remained incommunicable and divided at the dawn of civilisation by the enormity of barriers of seas, mountains, forests, rivers, or deserts. An individual community/society developed their own language and got their holy scriptures in their languages. That is why the preachers of different religions have been preaching in the mother language of the people.
But if we collate the essence of all religions and spirituality, there is hardly any difference in spirit – it is all about love for humanity, forgiveness, kindness, compassion and peace. It is only the expression, the language of those religions and the spirituality that varies. Hence, the languages and even the religions could be different, but when you translate their teachings into a common language it can be seen that these are mostly the same. I tend to believe that a different faith system could be fostered as an intangible cultural heritage of human civilisation if we could speak the language of humanity and universal love. And perhaps this is the only way we could bring the people together defying all kinds of divides.
Q: How can Bangladesh assist Sri Lanka to enhance the concept of culture in a possible local model of peacebuilding and national unity?
Bangladesh remains committed to its principle of ‘Culture of Peace’ through policy interventions in different areas. The areas are education, sustainable economic and social development, respect of human rights, equality, democratic participation, understanding tolerance and solidarity, free flow of information and knowledge and international peace and security. This model has worked well for us. Even the United Nations adopted Bangladesh’s flagship resolution on the ‘Culture of Peace’ which is a huge recognition.
