 |
||
|
|
The Bengali love affair with their language involves a passionate ritual that produces emotional experiences seldom found in other parts of the world. As a plot to change the cultural and linguistic identity of the Bengalis, the then Pakistani rulers declared that "the Urdu only the Urdu" will be the state language of Pakistan where 62% of the population speak in Bangla. The whole Bengali nation burst into agitation. The movement to designate Bangla as the state language of Pakistan began. The rulers took this demand as a step to the autonomy of the Bengali nation and declared emergency banning all kinds of meeting, procession in the Dhaka city, the provincial capital of East Pakistan. The students of Dhaka University decided to bring out processions ignoring the emergency on February 21, 1952 and submit their memorandum to the National Assembly. The administration reacted and shot the peace procession killing a number of students and civilian. The whole nation mourned and reacted as a wounded Royal Bengal Tiger. This helped the nation to achieve their demand and became the principal point of reference and rallying cry. Since 1952 till now we, the Bengali nation observes February 21 as our Mother Tongue Day. This year (1999) the UNESCO has decided to observe February 21 as the International Mother Tongue Day as we are the only nation in the world who had to spill blood for earning a rightful place of their mother tongue. |
|
 |
||
|
|
||
|
|