How Pakistan celebrates International Mother Language Day
Different sorts of functions, including rally and solidarity march, have taken place in Pakistan to celebrate the day in recent years, with a view to promoting other languages such as Punjabi
The indomitable valour shown by the Language Movement martyrs and activists is now being discussed with great respect in a country that was solely responsible for the clampdown on Bangla-speaking people of the then East Pakistan's capital Dhaka in 1952.
Pakistan itself has started to celebrate the day, though not under government arrangement.
A large number of Pakistanis have been inspired by the 1952's language movement and demanding that their mother tongues be declared as the official languages of Pakistan.
Arrangements are being made on a large scale in different cities of Pakistan to celebrate International Mother Language Day.
In recent years, rallies took place in Lahore to celebrate the day in promotions of their other languages such as Punjabi, along with Urdu. Usually, the rally is organised by the Pakistan Punjabi Adabi Board in association with other cultural bodies. Carrying banners and placards and dancing to the drum beats, wearing mustard coloured headbands, they sing Punjabi songs.
People from all walks of life are taking parts in this. Rally, solidarity march and other sorts of functions were reported to have taken place in the country in recent years.