On the day of International Matribhasha Diwas Education minister Ratan Lal Nath felicitated Kamal Bongcher, representative of the seriously endangered linguistic group Bongcher. Besids in the programme Information and Cultural Affairs minister Sushanta Chowdhury felicitated Shiv Shankar Paul who received National Teachers Award 2021
Human civilization and culture has evolved through mother tongue only. Mother tongue is the only reliable medium for development and evolution of art, literature and science.
The present state government is working for the development of the languages of all tribes and non-tribes, stated the education minister Ratan Lal Nath today at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan while speaking at the second session of the seminar and cultural programme organized jointly by the Government of Tripura and Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh at Agartala. In the beginning of the programme education minister Ratan Lal Nath inaugurated the tri-lingual (Bengali, Kokborok and English) website of education department.
Addressing the gathering the education minister said, in the language movement on February 21, 1952 Salam, Barkat, Jabbars laid their lives for their language. Since then the day has been observed as Bhasha Diwas. Afterwards UNESCO also recognized the day February 21 as International Mother Language Day.
He said, in the New Education Policy of India emphasis has been given on teaching in mother tongue. He informed, during the last four years, Kokborok language has been introduced in 45 primary schools, 49 secondary schools and 22 higher secondary schools. The state government has also decided to recruit Kokborok PGT and college teachers.
The education minister also informed, to do away with the language barrier between the government employees and the masses an online Kokborok course has been launched for the government employees from January 30, 2022. As a new initiative there are opportunities for taking up minor research projects on Kokborok and other minority languages like Kuki, Mizo, Halam, Garo, Chakma, Manipuri (Bishnupriya and Maitei). For this the state government would provide Rs. 1 lakh financial assistance.
In the beginning of the programme all the guests at Rabindra Bhawan compound paid floral tribute to the Shahid Bedi odelled out of the memorial of language movement. The guests inaugurated the programme by watering plants.
Speaking on the occasion the ICA minister Sushanta Chowhdury said, the Day February 21 is a glorious day for all the Bengali speaking people of the world. No language is lower or greater than the other. We should be respecting all the languages, the ICA minister added.
Assistant high commissioner of Bangladesh Arif Mohammed said, here is the only instance that India and Bangladesh jointly organize this observance. For this Tripura has carved out a niche for itself and the Day has gained a different status altogether. Among other who spoke on the occasion are – chairman of State Higher Education Council Dr. Arunoday Saha, and director of education department Chandni Chandran. Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dipak Majumder also graced the programme as a guest.
