Arunodoy Xakha Xahitya Xabha celebrated International Mother Language Day in Sivasagar

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: The International Mother Language Day was celebrated at the temporary office of the Arunodoy Xakha Xahitya Xabha in Sivasagar on Friday. The general meeting held on this occasion was presided over by noted social worker Monirul Islam Bora.

After the inaugural address by Arunodoy Xakha Xahitya Xabha’s General Secretary Khairuddin Ahmed, the keynote speech was delivered by renowned essayist and professor at Bir Lachit Borphukan College, Dr Simanta Baruah. Speaking on the significance of mother language, Dr Baruah emphasized, “The mother tongue is the language of our mothers and the pride of a nation. Those who love their mother tongue genuinely love their country and people. A true patriot who values their language will never engage in corruption or misconduct.”

He also highlighted India’s linguistic diversity, noting that the country has 1,652 languages, with 220 in the Northeast and 55 in Assam alone. Dr Baruah further elaborated on the historical significance of International Mother Language Day, tracing its origins to the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The movement, which protested against the imposition of Urdu as the national language, led to the tragic death of five young protestors in Dhaka on February 21, 1952. Their sacrifice ultimately contributed to the birth of an independent Bangladesh. Since then, Bangladesh has observed February 21 as Language Martyrs’ Day. In 1999, UNESCO recognized this day as International Mother Language Day, and later, the United Nations officially adopted it for global observance.

Dr Baruah also mentioned that the recognition of Assamese as a classical language is a matter of great pride. While many languages worldwide are facing extinction, the status granted to Assamese reflects its rich heritage and significance.

In his speech, newly-elected General Secretary of Sivasagar District Xahitya Xabha Manoj Kumar Gogoi acknowledged the unique contribution of the Arunodoy Xakha Xahitya Xabha. He noted that this literary forum was established in the historic Dhai Ali region in 2000, inspired by the legacy of Christian missionaries’ Arunodoy newspaper and prominent writers like Padma Shri Imran Shah and Syed Fatehul Mannan. Now in its 25th year, he proposed celebrating its silver jubilee.

During the meeting, a new executive committee for the Arunodoy Xakha Xahitya Xabha was formed, with Monirul Islam Bora as President, Naba Changmai and Mustafa Ahmed as Vice-Presidents, Mujahid Ali as General Secretary, Azad Alam and Sabir Ahmed as Assistant Secretaries, and Syed Mustakur Rahman and Najibur Rahman as Organizational Secretaries.

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