International Mother Language Day 2024: Every year February 20 is celebrated as International Mother Language Day. It honours linguistic diversity and promotes the importance of preserving and promoting mother languages around the world. The day traces its roots to the linguistic and cultural struggles faced by the Bengali-speaking population in Bangladesh during the early 1950s, making it a poignant reminder of the significance of linguistic rights and diversity.
Today is #MotherLanguageDay! 🙋♀️💬
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) February 21, 2024
Let's acknowledge the power of multilingual education as a cornerstone of intergenerational learning. 👨👧https://t.co/CGPCExVM6G pic.twitter.com/HwEKRMWgxh
On #MotherLanguageDay…
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) February 20, 2024
💬In some countries, the number of learners who aren’t taught in a language they speak & understand exceeds 90%!!
Learning in our mother tongue should not be a privilege, but a right.
40% of children don’t have access to education in their mother tongue.
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) February 20, 2024
This has a negative impact on their learning.
Multilingual education is not an option, it is a must!https://t.co/CGPCExVM6G #MotherLanguageDay pic.twitter.com/HlF80XRQ9u
International Mother Language Day 2024: Date, Theme, History, Significance, Key Facts & More
This article will introduce you to the fastest-growing language in India after Hindi. Check the complete list below:
List Of Fastest Growing Languages In India
Hindi is the most popular language, spoken by the majority in the northern regions of India. The definition of "Hindi" used by the Indian census is as broad as possible, encompassing many different "Hindi languages".As per the 2011 census, 43.63% of Indians identified Hindi as their mother tongue or native language, while 57.1% of the country's population is proficient in Hindi.
| Language | First language speakers | Second language speakers | Third language speakers | Total speakers |
| Hindi | 528,347,193 | 139,207,180 | 24,000,000 | 692,000,000 |
| English | 259,678 | 83,125,221 | 46,000,000 | 129,000,000 |
| Bengali | 97,237,669 | 9,037,222 | 1,000,000 | 107,000,000 |
| Marathi | 83,026,680 | 13,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 99,000,000 |
| Telugu | 81,127,740 | 12,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 95,000,000 |
| Tamil | 69,026,881 | 7,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 77,000,000 |
| Gujarati | 55,492,554 | 4,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 60,000,000 |
| Urdu | 50,772,631 | 11,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 63,000,000 |
| Kannada | 43,706,512 | 14,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 59,000,000 |
| Odia | 37,521,324 | 5,000,000 | 390,000 | 43,000,000 |
| Malayalam | 34,838,819 | 500,000 | 210,000 | 36,000,000 |
| Punjabi | 33,124,726 | 2,230,000 | 720,000 | 36,600,000 |
| Sanskrit | 24,821 | 1,230,000 | 1,960,000 | 3,190,000 |
Source: 2011 census
According to the 2011 Indian census, Bengali is the fourth most rapidly expanding language in the country, followed by Kashmiri in second place, Meitei (officially named Manipuri) Gujarati in third place, and Hindi in first place. The least multilingual groups in India are those who speak Bengali and Hindi.
In September 2018, the 2011 census report on trilingualism and bilingualism which includes information on the two languages a person prefers to speak as their second language was made public. In 2011, there were 314.9 million multilingual speakers in India, making up 26% of the country's total population, whereas 7% are trilingual.
In conclusion, International Mother Language Day is a global platform to highlight the intrinsic value of linguistic diversity and the role that mother languages play in shaping our identities and cultures. It encourages communities, educational institutions, and policymakers to work collaboratively to protect and promote linguistic heritage, ensuring that no language is left behind. As we celebrate this day, let us reaffirm our commitment to fostering understanding, tolerance, and unity through the appreciation and preservation of our mother languages.
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