On February 21, 1952, several Bangladeshi students were killed since they campaigned to officially use their mother language, Bengali. Since then 21st February then has long been observed as national martyrs’ day in Bangladesh. In 1999, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the day as the International Mother Language Day.
While observing the day this year, UNESCO reaffirmed the importance of local languages, especially those of minority and indigenous, as a means for celebrating and maintaining cultures, values and traditional knowledge, which in turn plays a role in promoting sustainable futures (UNESCO, 2017).
This year Asian University for Women (AUW) Community celebrated the International Mother Language Day with multiple meaningful activities among students, professors and staffs.
Games and activities organized by Writing Center
On 20th February, to promote linguistic diversity, Writing Center has organized varied language activities for AUW students. Students were immersed in four games – Tongue Twisters, Word Search Game, Learning Words in New Languages, Language Quiz - to learn new words and phrases with their friends. If Tongue Twisters Game requires players with fluency in pronunciation, Learning Words in New Languages gives players a chance to memorize words in different languages in short time, Word Search Game requires high focus in searching words in through a list of provided letters. In contrast, Language Quiz is a quick test about language knowledge for players. These meaningful games gave students opportunity to learn their friend’s Mother Languages and cultures.
Cultural Show organized by AUW students
On February 21st, AUW students organized a Cultural show from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm. Many AUW professors, students and staffs from different countries have taken part in the celebration of International Mother Language Day. They were dressed in black and white for showing respecting to Martyrs, who sacrificed lives and made history on this day.
Cultural Show was organized as a drama combining with performance from many countries. Audiences engrossed in the program as a journalist tried to explore the meaning and experience of people about celebrate International Mother Language Day. She has conservations with different group of people (from a young and dating couple to boys, a politician, an old woman). Finally, he realizes that some make this day a chance of dating, some consider speaking English make us more educated , some do not know about Martyrs and only an old woman ,who is a wife a Martyr, shows how much sacrifice was made for the Bangla language. Drama went to an end with an emotional and heart-touching question of journalist after her trip: “Is there only this old woman who respects the martyrs? Isn’t it our responsibility to respect Martyrs?”
Along with drama, there are many performances contributed by students from students and professor such as traditional dances (Indian students, Myanmar students, Bangladesh students ), singing , and poetry reading.
“Respecting Martyrs who sacrifice for our language is my inspiration for writing this drama. I would like to remind people that should not forget our history”, said Sonia Gomes , an AA student and story writer of this drama.
Language Game has marked an end of Cultural Show with 5 language identification and meaning question. Many audience excitedly join game, prof. Riaz Khan , Mr. Nasir ( staff of OSA), and three students were winners of the game.
Audiences have been brought heart-touching moments as well as fun through the creative and lovely acting.
Reference:
Author:Nhung Bui
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