Wow!! I was really taken back when I saw the awareness processions and meetings in some parts of TN in connection with the Mother Tongue Day or Mother Language Day while I was watching the SUNTV(Tamil TV Network) news today. Is there a really a day to honor and celebrate our mother tongue? Looks like there is one.
I heard about Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Heart Day, AIDS Day, Teachers Day, Childrens day and never to forget the most well know Valentines Day. But I never heard one to celebrate and honor our Mother language/Tongue.
I am really happy to see people actually observing that day because I am lover of my mother tongue. Obviously everybody loves their mother tongue which needs to be honored and celebrated. It might not have any special effect in the western world because they really speak one and only language which is English. I guess thats the reason I don’t see any special cards from Hallmark which always try to make buck of it. 
It really matters for people in those countries which has lots of different languages spoken and used. Especially in India, it really matters and makes a lot of sense. As per my knowledge, we have around 800 different languages with around 2000
dialects. We have 23 official languages in our country. Too many languages but each of them has their own heritage which needs to celebrated and remembered by their own people.
As usual, my buzzing brain wants to know how exactly this day start to be commenrated as Mother language Day ?
I found some interesting facts as below:
Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. Half of the world’s 6000 to 7000 languages are in danger of extinction.- International Mother Language Day, celebrated annually aims to promote the recognition and practice of the world’s mother tongues, particularly minority ones.
The main objective is by “Favouring the promotion of linguistic diversity and the development of multilingual education from an early age helps preserve cultural diversity and the conditions for international understanding, tolerance and mutual respect.”
Language is the root of any culture and by showing the pride towards honoring it seems to be wonderful way. I think it makes real sense to honor and celebrate our mother tongue while there are other nonsense unimportant days celebrated in the world. It also gives the opportunity to talk about it to our kids and increase their awarness.
At this time, atleast start saying out loud that “I AM PROUD TO SPEAK MY Mother language {Hindi, Kannada, Telugu or any of you language}”.
I am saying it loud, “I AM PROUD TO SPEAK MY MOTHER LANGUAGE TAMIL”.
Also try to have a habit to speak only in your mother language whenever you talk to your friends who know your mother language instead of using some other language. Like for example, (Translation – Speak to Tamilians in Tamil to increase Tamil awareness)
