Protecting Telugu Is Our Responsibility: AP CM YS Jagan On International Mother Language Day

AMARAVATI: On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in his message stated that the Telugu people have the responsibility of protecting the Telugu language, while extending his wishes.

The Chief Minister said that our mother tongue is a symbol of subsistence and our way of life. He said that our language is the founding root of our culture and traditions. The Chief Minister greeted the Telugu people across the world, in his message shared on his Twitter handle.

Read his message in Telugu here:

మాతృభాష అంటేనే మన ఉనికి, మన అస్తిత్వానికి ప్రతీక. మన సంస్కృతి, సంప్రదాయాలకు, జీవన విధానానికి మూలాధారం మాతృభాష. తెలుగు భాషను పరిరక్షించుకోవడం మనందరి బాధ్యత. ప్రపంచవ్యాప్తంగా ఉన్న తెలుగువారందరికీ అంతర్జాతీయ మాతృభాషాదినోత్సవ శుభాకాంక్షలు.

— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) February 21, 2021

International Mother Language Day was approved in 1999 by the UNESCO General Conference and has been observed throughout the world  since 2000.

UNESCO believes in the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies. It is within its mandate for peace that it works to preserve the differences in cultures and languages that foster tolerance and respect for others.  

Multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages which transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way as per the information mentioned in the UNESCO website.

The theme for the year 2021 on International Mother Language Day as stated in the UNESCO website is about , “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society,” recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals’ focus on leaving no one behind. UNESCO believes education, based on the first language or mother tongue, must begin from the early years, as early childhood care and education is the foundation of learning.

Director-General of UNESCO,Audrey Azoulay on the occasion of International Mother Language Day said that "Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society", thus encourages us to support multilingualism and the use of mother tongues, both at school and in everyday life. This is essential, because when 40% of the world's inhabitants do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best, it hinders their learning, as well as their access to heritage and cultural expressions. This year, special attention is being paid to multilingual education from early childhood, so that for children, their mother tongue is always an asset."