Include Indian languages in UK curriculum, diaspora demands

Thursday 02nd March 2023 02:02 EST
 
 

The Indian diaspora submitted a memorandum to the Department of Education and Secretary of State Gillian Keegan, calling for the inclusion of major Indian languages in the British school curriculum on International Mother Language Day. This submission also marked the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated International Mother Language Day in London last week.
The memorandum was presented by Harmeet Singh Bhakna of the Punjabi Language Awareness Board UK and CK Naidu of the Sanathan Sanstha UK, calling for Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi and Nepali within the school curriculum. These languages are a part of South Asian languages spoken in England.
A panel discussion chaired by Nehru Centre Director and author Amish Tripathi on ‘Status of South Asian Languages in the UK’, took place.
Indian High Commi-ssioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami said: “We in India are a nation of many languages. Each of these is justly celebrated, not just in our currency notes, not just in our music, not just in our folklore, it is celebrated in every sense… through signage, through literature, and through films. It has made India what it is – the world’s most multicultural country. And, the Indian diaspora are the people who have brought those languages, that culture here… celebrating your links to your ancestral homeland in South Asia through language. Your efforts to sustain and protect your language and take it forward through your children and your grandchildren will be your legacy.”


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