International Day of Mother Language is an important event in the Advance Diversity Services calendar. There are around 8,324 languages spoken worldwide, with many at risk of disappearing due to globalisation and societal change. With currently over 3,000 endangered languages, including many Australian Indigenous languages, International Mother Language Day serves as a reminder of the importance of celebrating linguistic diversity and preserving our native languages, which embody a sense of identity, cultural heritage and history. This year was the 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter-century of efforts to preserve and promote mother tongues.
ADS Celebrates Multilingualism
Each year, Advance Diversity Services (ADS) proudly observes International Mother Language Day, spearheaded by our Bangladeshi support group. Wearing black and white is a key tradition that honours the sacrifices made for linguistic freedom, when on the 21st of February 1952 in Dhaka, Bangladesh (then part of East Pakistan) four students lost their lives defending the right to use Bengali as their official language instead of Urdu.
Our events have brought together many people from diverse backgrounds, including Bangladeshi, Ukrainian, Thai, Nepalese, Indonesian, Chinese and Lebanese communities. Through shared stories, cultural traditions, food and performances, we celebrate the richness of our linguistic heritage in a meaningful way.
This year, we were privileged to have Sahely Ferdous as our guest speaker. Sahely, a sessional teacher and PhD candidate at Macquarie University, spoke passionately about the significance of language preservation and the history behind International Mother Language Day. You can read her speech here:
Distinguished guests and dear friends,
I am deeply honoured to stand before you today as a guest speaker to commemorate International Mother Language Day. This observance has its roots in the profound sacrifices made in Bangladesh, where on February 21, 1952, students and political activists gave their lives protesting for the recognition of Bangla as an official language. Their courage in the face of oppression led to UNESCO’s declaration of February 21st as International Mother Language Day in 1999, transforming a national struggle into a global commitment to linguistic diversity. This day gained further global significance when the United Nations General Assembly, through its Resolution of 2002, formally recognized and adopted it, underscoring the crucial role languages play in promoting inclusion and achieving sustainable development goals. This day reminds us that our mother languages are not merely tools of communication, but vessels of our cultural heritage and the guardians of our unique identities.
The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day initiated by Bangladesh is now developing the 2025 theme as ‘Silver Jubilee Celebration of International Mother Language Day’.
In a world facing unprecedented cultural homogenization, the preservation of mother languages has become a critical global issue. Today, of the approximately 8,324 languages spoken worldwide, many are endangered because of globalization and social changes. When a language disappears, we lose not only words, but entire knowledge systems, worldviews, and cultural expressions developed over centuries. As we gather here, let us commit to protecting this linguistic diversity through education, documentation, and technology. By celebrating our mother tongues, we honour those who fought for linguistic rights, strengthen our communities, and ensure that the rich tapestry of human expression continues to flourish across generations, creating a more inclusive and culturally vibrant world for all.
Thank you!!
