The language activists from around India gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to celebrate the International Mother Language Day and demanded about 40 languages to be included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India.
The activists representing the languages including Bhojpuri, Kosali, Rajasthani, Kodava, Magahi, Badugu, Angika and also the representatives Hindi, Kannada. Tamil, Punjabi and Bangla too participated in the dharma.
The program is organized by Campaign for Language Equality and Rights CLEAR, a pan-india organization representing language activists and organizations.
Hundreds of Bhojpuri and Kosali speakers were gathered. The case of Kosali is an example. The Kosali representative, Mr Saket Sreebhushan Sahu said, “In India, everyone is paying tak but all are not getting their language rights. The present government should address this language inequality and bring new language policy. He questioned, if language like Bodo can be included in 8th schedule why not Kosali ? if English can get all facilities of Kendra Shaitya Academy without included in 8th schedule then why not Kosali ? If Odisha can have Urdu Academy why not Kosali ? If Odisha can start primary education in more than 12 languages why not in Kosali ? If more than 15 states of the country can have more than 2 official languages then why not Odisha? For the people of western Odisha it is not just a language but a way of life that propel progresses and harmony in the region. The inclusion of Kosali language in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution will have positive impacts on the people of western Odisha as they consider Kosali as their identity and insignia”. Kosali Kriyanusthan Committee is a member of CLEAR.
Mr.Santosh Patel, President, Bhojpuri Language Recognition Movement, criticises the Modi government for not honoring the promise he made in 2013 that if elected his government would include Bhojpuri in the 8th schedule. “This is happening ever since 1947”.
Kodava (Coorg) activist Mr Machimanda Cariappa Appaiah said,”Inclusion of Kodava language will reignite the bond of trust between our peoples, which is the spirit behind our constitution”.
Mr. Kundan Amitabh, national secretary of All India Ang Angika Development Forum demands Angika, a distinct language spoken by 6 crore people from 26 districts in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal to be immediately included in the 8th schedule of the Constitution. “Unless education and employment are made available in Angika and other mother tongues, it is impossible to achieve the right objective of independence of the country”, he said, Resenting that Ankiga speakers are erroneously included as Maithili speakers, Mr. Amitabh noted imperialist political tendencies have increased the risk of the destruction of the very ancient and great mythological Angdesh culture.
Mr Mahavir Mood of Rajasthani language strongly posed questions. “Why my language has been locked, why Rajasthani is denied (its rightful place)”.
Renowned mother tongue activist and the President of CLEAR Dr. Joga Singh observed “Mother tongue is the key to a child’s psychological, cognitive, cultural and social development. Equal political status of India’s all mother tongues is essential for India’s harmonious growth”.
Mr. Aazhi Senthilnathan, noted political activist from Tamil Nadu representing Thannstchi Thamizhagam and Federal Coordinator of CLEAR demanded the Union government immediately start an initiative to recognise the non-scheduled languages without any delay, since their applications are already pending before it. He argued the central government’s language policies of obsolete and out of sync with time.
Reminding the origin of the International Mother Language Day, the day observed by commemorating the 1952 Martyrs of then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) who fought against the imposition of Urdu over Bengali speaking people, Mr Anand G of Vice President of CLEAR and also from Banavasi Balaga, a Kannada language organisation, said India should learn from Pakistan’s mistake and treat all Indian languages equally.
Mr Yogeshraj (Badugu), Mr. Sudhir Hilsayan (Magahi), Dr. Arun Kumar (Bajjika), Mrs Rama Pandey (Awadhi), Ms Reema Banerjee (Bangla) and others addressed the gathering.