“Festival of Pakistani Mother Languages” to be held in Islamabad

Islamabad: Sindh Graduates Association (SGA) Islamabad and “Theatre Wallay” are organizing the “Festival of Pakistani Mother Languages” (مادری زبانوں کا جشن) in connection with International Mother Languages Day on Sunday, 23 February at 11:30 am.

The day is celebrated all over the world in the memory of students of Dhaka University who had gathered to demand national status for their mother tongue – Bangla, on February 21, 1948. Their peaceful rally was fired upon resulting in the death of a few activists.

The day is recognized by UNESCO and celebrated all over the world to mark the importance of mother languages and highlight the language rights of all humans. Pakistan is home to a number of languages rooted in centuries-old culture of tolerance and love for humanity. However many of these native languages are endangered as the state does not provide a platform to protect them. Millions of Pakistanis are struggling to keep their native languages alive and realise their language rights. SGA has been celebrating and promoting Pakistan’s linguistic diversity on International Mother Languages Day for last five years by hosting events that have been attended by writers, artists and intellectuals from all leading Pakistani languages.

This year an organization of artists, known as “Theatre Wallay”, has joined hands with SGA to mark this day.

The organizers have requested the people to attend the event along with their families and friends to show commitment to the values of diversity and pluralism. Artists and linguists from Gilgit-Baltsitan and Chitral can also participate in the programme.

The festival will start on February 23 2014, 11:30 AM at Shah Abdul Lateef Bhittai Community Center located near Preston University in H-8/1 sector, Islamabad.