Pakistan - A Cauldron of Mother Languages
By Sasha Scheherzade
A native language spoken by a parent/father or mother tongue, is one that an infant gets exposed to from the time of birth. In some countries, the term native language or mother tongue refers to the language of one's ethnic group rather than one's first language or mother tongue or any language that is spoken at home.
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Pakistan is fortunate enough to enjoy a geographical location that not just traditionally but linguistically rich with an equally diverse nation that is known for being dynamic in all cultural aspects out of which mother language comes first and foremost.
Nearly 74 mother languages are spoken in Pakistan according to stats shared by UNESCO Islamabad. The five chief regional languages Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi, Siraiki and Urdu have more than 10 million speakers and almost all mother languages belong to a Indo-Iranian group from the Indo-Europeon family. Ethnologue, an online reference print publication lists 74 spoken languages in Pakistan. Of these, 66 are indigenous and 8 are non-indigenous. In terms of their vitality, 6 are classified as 'institutional', 18 are 'developing', 39 are 'vigorous', 9 are 'in trouble', and 2 are 'dying languages'.
To celebrate this linguistic diversity, Indus Cultural Forum collaborated with Pakistan National Council of Arts on International Mother Languages Day, i.e, February 21, 2020, to organize the 5th Pakistan Mother Languages and Literature Festival. It was s three-day linguistically rich festival from Feb 21 - 23, wherein more than 150 writers, artists, intellectuals and activists, all speakers of upto 20 different Pakistani mother-tongues were gathered on this huge and colourful platform which was free and open to all public.
This vibrant three-day festival featured 20 diverse sessions comprising of healthy mother language discourses, book launches in different mother languages, entertaining artsy performances and some of the most amazing poetry readings.
Chairperson of Indus Cultural Forum (ICF), Mr. Niaz Nadeem Baig speaking at one of the session was of view that by arranging such sophisticated and literary enriching festivals, "We are working towards showing greater regard to all Pakistani Mother Languages as these represent folk wisdom of millions of people living in Pakistan." Special attention was given constitutional equality for all languages and all sessions were carefully held in this regard.
Director General, PNCA, Dr. Fouzia Saeed was of view that through this festival, "We shall be celebrating the diversity of 70 plus mother languages as we believe in encouraging the communities to take action that could save the remaining mother languages in Homeland from extinction."
Writer, Translator and founding member of ICF, Nusrat Zehra looked all positive when she said, "I have been associated voluntarily with Indus Cultural Forum for past 4 years and through this festival we have presented literary sessions on 15 different spoken Mother Languages, cumulatively."
For those who know little about the very green and serene federal capital of Islamabad, the capital that to majority of public reeks of diplomacy and politics, the 5th Pakistan Mother Language and Literature Festival brought to limelight a host of colourful attractions that included power packed sufiyana performance by folk singer Saien Zahoor and a concert by the Nightingale of Pakistan, Hadiqa Kiyani, who enthralled the audience way past midnight where she sang some of her famous folk songs in 12 different languages and had the audience, both men, women and children sway to her melodious desi numbers thus coming to a halt. To a beholder, it turned out to be was a very cheerful, compassionate and lively federal capital that had yours truly feeling completely bedazzled.
This festival was sponsored by Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Foundation of Open Society Institute, Govt. of Sindh Art and Cultural Department, Alternative Research Initiative, ECO Science Foundation and many more organisations.
For an observer's point of view, it seems that out from many regular cultural happenings this particular festival is on a smooth sail to becoming one of the best public attractions in the Federal Capital owing to its great literary content, thanks to the added attractions, rigorous hard work and an enlightened approach from ICF management team and their supporting partners. Here is hoping this will continue to stir a positive debate until all mother languages of Pakistan start enjoying an equal status quo and languages feared extinction will bounce back. Collective efforts of ICF and PNCA stand laudable.
Sasha Scheherzade is a freelance blogger and art critic under iBlog by Sasha at Blogspot.com.
Rights of content reserved with the author.
A native language spoken by a parent/father or mother tongue, is one that an infant gets exposed to from the time of birth. In some countries, the term native language or mother tongue refers to the language of one's ethnic group rather than one's first language or mother tongue or any language that is spoken at home.
.
Pakistan is fortunate enough to enjoy a geographical location that not just traditionally but linguistically rich with an equally diverse nation that is known for being dynamic in all cultural aspects out of which mother language comes first and foremost.
Nearly 74 mother languages are spoken in Pakistan according to stats shared by UNESCO Islamabad. The five chief regional languages Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi, Siraiki and Urdu have more than 10 million speakers and almost all mother languages belong to a Indo-Iranian group from the Indo-Europeon family. Ethnologue, an online reference print publication lists 74 spoken languages in Pakistan. Of these, 66 are indigenous and 8 are non-indigenous. In terms of their vitality, 6 are classified as 'institutional', 18 are 'developing', 39 are 'vigorous', 9 are 'in trouble', and 2 are 'dying languages'.
To celebrate this linguistic diversity, Indus Cultural Forum collaborated with Pakistan National Council of Arts on International Mother Languages Day, i.e, February 21, 2020, to organize the 5th Pakistan Mother Languages and Literature Festival. It was s three-day linguistically rich festival from Feb 21 - 23, wherein more than 150 writers, artists, intellectuals and activists, all speakers of upto 20 different Pakistani mother-tongues were gathered on this huge and colourful platform which was free and open to all public.
This vibrant three-day festival featured 20 diverse sessions comprising of healthy mother language discourses, book launches in different mother languages, entertaining artsy performances and some of the most amazing poetry readings.
Chairperson of Indus Cultural Forum (ICF), Mr. Niaz Nadeem Baig speaking at one of the session was of view that by arranging such sophisticated and literary enriching festivals, "We are working towards showing greater regard to all Pakistani Mother Languages as these represent folk wisdom of millions of people living in Pakistan." Special attention was given constitutional equality for all languages and all sessions were carefully held in this regard.
Director General, PNCA, Dr. Fouzia Saeed was of view that through this festival, "We shall be celebrating the diversity of 70 plus mother languages as we believe in encouraging the communities to take action that could save the remaining mother languages in Homeland from extinction."
Writer, Translator and founding member of ICF, Nusrat Zehra looked all positive when she said, "I have been associated voluntarily with Indus Cultural Forum for past 4 years and through this festival we have presented literary sessions on 15 different spoken Mother Languages, cumulatively."
For those who know little about the very green and serene federal capital of Islamabad, the capital that to majority of public reeks of diplomacy and politics, the 5th Pakistan Mother Language and Literature Festival brought to limelight a host of colourful attractions that included power packed sufiyana performance by folk singer Saien Zahoor and a concert by the Nightingale of Pakistan, Hadiqa Kiyani, who enthralled the audience way past midnight where she sang some of her famous folk songs in 12 different languages and had the audience, both men, women and children sway to her melodious desi numbers thus coming to a halt. To a beholder, it turned out to be was a very cheerful, compassionate and lively federal capital that had yours truly feeling completely bedazzled.
This festival was sponsored by Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Foundation of Open Society Institute, Govt. of Sindh Art and Cultural Department, Alternative Research Initiative, ECO Science Foundation and many more organisations.
For an observer's point of view, it seems that out from many regular cultural happenings this particular festival is on a smooth sail to becoming one of the best public attractions in the Federal Capital owing to its great literary content, thanks to the added attractions, rigorous hard work and an enlightened approach from ICF management team and their supporting partners. Here is hoping this will continue to stir a positive debate until all mother languages of Pakistan start enjoying an equal status quo and languages feared extinction will bounce back. Collective efforts of ICF and PNCA stand laudable.
Sasha Scheherzade is a freelance blogger and art critic under iBlog by Sasha at Blogspot.com.
Rights of content reserved with the author.
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