International Mother Language Day

On Monday February 22, 2010, the IWU International students celebrated International Mother Language Day by showing students, staff, and faculty how their names appear in different languages.

International Language Day was proposed to the United Nations by the country of Bangladesh. It passed in 1999 and has been held on February 21 every year thereafter. It is held on this date to honor three university students who were killed on February 21, 1952 after a peaceful protest that their native language (Bangla) was not recognized by their government (Pakistan). This area (East Pakistan) later seceded from its union with West Pakistan to form Bangladesh in 1971.

Photo Courtesy Kristina Bennett