Hundreds of Bangla community people and many South Asian people have united to pay homage to the immortal Ekushey February 21, 2010 and the International Mother Language Day under the banner of the United International Mother Language Day Celebration at the Bangladesh Centre, Toronto. The great ceremony will begin with placing of floral wreath at Shaheed Minar (Ceremonial Monument) by the members of Bengali community at Bangladesh Centre, 2670, Danforth Avenue, Toronto. Bangla Community will pay the glowing tributes to the great language martyrs. More information is available from Ms. Chaman Ara, Telephone 416 686 3980 and Mr. Pronobesh Poddar, 416 458 3280.
Bangla literature demands justice here and now. In this respect the message of UNESCO declared, “We pay tribute to the people of Bangladesh, whose passion for their own language has inspired the designation of 21st February as the International Mother Language Day. As UNESCO marks 21st February, the International Mother Language Day, we and millions of Canadian nationals sincerely requested the Right Honorable Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada, to designate the International mother language Day in the Canadian Government Calendar.
Toronto is the most culturally diverse city in the world, and is home to people from 170 countries, who speak more than 100 languages and dialects. Together they create a vibrancy and spirit that make our city truly unique. One of the remarkable parts of the function will be Rabindranath Tagore’s song sung by Ms. Colettee Peters who went to Calcutta to study Bangla and Tagore’s songs. Ms. Peters highly appreciated the Bangla language and songs.
Our South Asian community is an important and vital part of Toronto’s cultural mosaic, strength and success – something of which we are all extremely proud. Homage will be paid to Martyrs of Bangla Language and People demand that the Government of Canada should recognize UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day.
Author: Mr. Sona Kanti Barua is an international author of several books and former President of the Bangla Sahitya Parisad (Bengali Literary Association) Toronto.
