If God had so wished, he would have made all Indians speak in one language … the unity of
India has been and shall always be unity in diversity.
– Rabindranath Tagore
International Mother Language day observed annually on 21 st February was celebrated today at C P S
Global School, Thirumazhisai with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. The theme of the 2023 International
Mother Language Day, “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education” aligns with
recommendations made during the Transforming Education Summit, where an emphasis was also placed
on Indigenous people’s education and languages.
India with its rich culture, heritage and different regional languages and dialects has always
embraced its diversity with pride and has been at the forefront promoting inclusivity. Multilingualism
contributes to the development of inclusive societies that allow multiple cultures, worldviews and
knowledge systems to coexist and cross-fertilize. Progress is being made in multilingual education with
growing understanding of its importance, particularly in early schooling, and more commitment to its
development in learning. This approach enables learners whose mother tongue is different from their
language of instruction to bridge the gap between home and school, to discover the school environment
in a familiar language, and thus, understand better while enjoying the experience of learning. The school
hosted various activities for different levels from Primary to IB helmed by the teachers to promote the idea
of learning and appreciating ones mother tongue. From mapping various regions with their mother tongue
to translating verse and prose in Vernacular language it was indeed an immersive learning experience for
all the students of CPS. The day ended with many of the students reflecting on the richness and
abundance of Indigenous Language and Literature which was refreshing and also an eye opener for many.
