Limi Youths are Reciting the National Anthem

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C.S.Kulung

21st Feb. 2008, Kathmandu

The 9th International Mother Language Day has been celebrated in Kathmandu organizing different activities in the cooperation with Nepal National Commission for UNESCO and Indigenous Film Archive (IFA).The programme was organized by Chulachuli UNESCO Club-Kathmandu in Nepal.

In the programme national anthem of Nepal written by Vyakul Maila was recited in different mother languages such as Kulung, Nachhiring, Chamling, Bahing, Lohorung, Nhinba and Limi. In the meantime Tharu and Newar songs with the equal status of national anthem in their respective communities were also recited.

In the programme a presentation on \"Mother Language and Communities\' Identity in regards to the Lingual Human Rights\" was also presented by Dr. David A. Hough PhD, the Chief Technical Advisor of Multilingual Education Programme run under the Inclusion Section of Department of Education, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur. He expressed that the language holding power kills to the languages who have no power and cited an example of English is killing to Hindi, Hindi is killing to Nepali-Khas and Nepali-Khas is killing to several other indigenous languages. So all the languages must be protected by the state through multilingual education programme.

In addtion a film produced in Gurung indigenous language (with subtitle in Nepali-Khas) called \'KRIPA\' was also shown to encourage peoples to think for making an effective film in mother languages at low cost. The film was critically examined by two critics Asso. Prof. Dr. Chunda Bajracharya, Culturist and Mr. Amrit Yonjan Tamang, Linguist.

At the last part of the programme interaction an appeal was endored by the participants to recognize the international mother language day as a National Day and celebrate annually by the state.

The programme was conducted by Chandra Singh Kulung, President of the Chulachuli UNESCO Club-Kathmandu.