Rakin Mohsen Apon
With a goal to carry out research and spread Bangla language to the masses, the International Mother Language Institute (IMLI) sets its eyes to work with the motto ‘mother language-based multi-lingual education’ in 2021. After a decade of its establishment, this organization currently is working to strengthen its grip on Language diversification although reports of achievements yet to shine properly.
Starting its function in 2011, the plan to create this organization was initiated in 1999 after UNESCO had declared 21st February as the International Mother Language Day. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 1999 gave assurance to establish an International Mother Language Institute. With the presence of the then Secretary-General of UN Kofi A Annan, she laid the foundation stone of the institution in 2001.
What International Mother Language Institute achieved this far? Being asked, Director-General Dr Jinnat Imtiaz Ali told Bangladesh Post that the IMLI has a complete infrastructure on Bangla language along with the language museum and the biggest language library in Bangladesh. Apart from getting the 2016 UNESCO International Literacy Prize, UNESCO applied Category II Institute status to IMLI in 2015.
Dr Jinnat Imtiaz Ali also said that currently, IMLI is working on language documentation and language revitalization. Already they have documented books on 5 languages that ethnic minorities use. As they have separate languages and writing forms, ILMI has cataloged all of these. Although they are being cautious while suggesting the language catalog process as it is a nature of delicacy itself. Due to the lack of researchers, the process is slow as of now. ‘The complicity of this very subject attracts very few researchers’, he quoted.
Bangladesh will gradually interchange ideas and research methods among countries that are willing to work on their mother languages. Lithuanian Language Institue has signed an agreement with the ILMI to research the history of the Aryan language as they too share roots with this language form. Both the country will share resources on language researchers, he also informed.
He further said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved scholarship funds for this institution. They will start Ph D and M Phil programs soon so that various types of research on micro-level could be conducted. The IMLI will collaborate with universities to conduct research on the languages of ethnic minorities. As projects on language cannot be wrapped up in a short time, some long-time duration projects will also be planned in this regard.
He especially urged all to be non-judgemental on language issues. Unity and diversity- we should keep that in the mind. Many languages have lost their existence on the earth due to linguicide. Many African languages with thousands of dialects were lost due to colonialism in the African continent. We should not prioritize one mother language over another as we as a nation sacrificed much to protect our mother tongue. International Mother Language Institute is working to achieve that, he added.
