An even held in Chitral in connnction with the mother languages day on Feb 21.–Photo: Muhkam Uddin[/caption] PESHAWAR: Different literary and cultural organisations, civil society bodies and political activists gathered to mark the International Mother Language Day on Wednesday across the province by conducting seminars, book fairs, poetry recitation sessions, debates, rallies and walks. The organisers highlighted the significance of mother tongues for numerous practical purposes in life including mass communication, trade, education and expression of national aspirations towards a forward looking society. Literary organisations conducted events regarding mother languages day in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Shangla, Swat, Malakand, Buner, Dir, Kohat, Charsadda, Mardan, Bannu and Peshawar. The speakers at the events said that mother tongues were not given their due status. They said mother tongues should be made medium of instruction at schools and compulsory from grade one to intermediate level. They asked the authorities to take concrete measures for the preservation and promotion of all languages spokenin the province without any discrimination. They demanded a separate national TV and radio for promotion of Pashto. Scholars and language experts threw light at various events on the importance of their respective mother tongues and asked the authorities and local communities to join hands to respect indigenous lingos and take concrete steps for the preservation and promotion of linguistic diversity for greater national unity and social cohesion among different ethnicities and cultural groups living in the country. Addressing a rally outside Peshawar Press Club, Prof Abaseen Yousafzai stressed the need for substandve research on the significance of mother tongues. He said that KP was home to more than two dozen languages enjoying a rich linguistic and cultural diversity compared to rest of the country. The rally was organised by Da Sabir Ranra Malgari, a literary organisation based in Peshawar. Prof Abaseen said that basic reason behind the advancement of Japan, China and European countries was education in their mother tongues. He said that people wouldn`t progress unlessmother tongue was made medium of instruction, market and commerce. He asked the education department to start teaching of Pashto and other five mother tongues in educational institutions from grade one to 12th grade. Syed Sabir Shah, a noted poet, said that no development in any field was possible unless mother tongues were given their rights. He said that Pashto had been ignored when it came to coverage on national TV or radio network. The management of IMSciences, Hayatabad Peshawar conducted a grand literary function in which students and teachers along with guest poets and writers participated to celebrate mother tongues. Similarly, the student wing of ANP organised a function at Pashto Academy, University of Peshawar to showcase the main aspects of Pashto language, history and culture of Pakhtuns. Prof Yasin Iqbal Yousafzai, Dr Khurshid Alam, Prof Noorul Amin Yousafzai, Prof Ahmad Ali Aajiz and Mohammad Ali Dinakhel presented papers on differenttopics. Malakand Mrastial Likwal, another literary body, conducted a seminar and walk to mark the mother languages day at Batkhela Press Club. Published in Dawn.]]>
