Today, the 21st of February, 2019 is being celebrated as the International Mother Tongue Day. On this auspicious occasion, we all have come together from various regions speaking so many different mother tongues, in Bargargh- this land of unique language and culture, and do hereby solemnly affirm that:
1) We shall use our Mother Tongue both in our private as well as public lives and will endeavour to guarantee due respect and dignity to our Mother Tongues all over the world.
2) We shall read, write and also sign in our Mother Tongue.
3) We shall use our Mother Tongue for the purpose of cultural, social, familial and business communications.
4) We shall read and write our invitation cards, letters, news, views and books in our own Mother Tongue.
5) We shall appeal the government to provide all kinds of help and support so as to protect, promote and develop our language. We shall continue our campaign till all our demands are fulfilled.
6) We shall demand the government to provide primary education to our children in our own language. We shall continue with our demand till it is finally accepted and accomplished.
7) We shall demand the government to guarantee Constitutional Rights to our language by including in the 8th Schedule.
8) We shall demand the government to establish various institutions such as language research centres and Sahitya Academies and also to open schools, colleges and Universities in which the medium of teaching and learning should be in our Mother Tongue. We shall continue our movement till all our demands are fulfilled.
9) We shall appeal the government to duly recognize, respect and reward and provide all kinds of support to writers, poets, historians, teachers and researchers who are working on language, literature, history, culture, music, dance, etc. of our region. We shall continue with our movement till all our demands are fulfilled.
10) Our Mother Tongues are still alive in our villages, but 90% of our people do not know about their Mother Tongue and its importance. We shall go to every village and every family and bring consciousness about our language and its rich history and heritage.
11) We shall dedicate ourselves and work with all sincerity and devotion as conscience keepers of our language till the end of our life.
Today, we feel proud of the fact that we are taking oath for the sake of our Mother Tongue with all our head, heart and conscience and take pride in our own self.
Victory to our Mother and Mother Land
Victory to our Mother Tongue
Victory to Mother Tongue Day.
JAI HIND
JAI KOSAL
(Original in Kosli by Bhikari Charan Mishra,
Kosli Bhasa Surakshya Samiti, Titlagarh
English Translation by Prof. Tila Kumar, Delhi University)