Saturday February 21 is International Mother Language Day.
This day was approved by UNESCO in 1999 at the behest of Bangladesh.
From the UNESCO website: "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."
From the Manawatu Bangalee Society: "Our Society draws its membership, somewhat uniquely, from two sovereign countries, Bangladesh and India. We are united by our largely common culture, cuisine and our common mother tongue Bangla or Bengali which is the 7th most widely spoken language in the world. Language, of course, is not just a means of communication; it is a repository of people’s culture, their history and their collective memories. It is perhaps the strongest element of an individual’s identity. It is a matter of pride for every individual to speak in his or her Mother Tongue, however many other languages they may speak."
Look for the Society at the 2026 Festival of Cultures if you want to learn more.
There's a display of the Community Languages Collection at Central Library, and we encourage you to keep using your Mother Language!
