A language is a powerful tool that can both unite and divide us, and on International Mother Language Day , we take the time to appreciate its beauty and diversity. In this article, we explore what this special day means and why it's so important to celebrate it. History and Significance of Celebrating International Mother Language Day February 21 is International Mother Language Day, which celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity and promotes multilingualism. The day was first proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999, and has been observed annually since then. The date of February 21 was chosen to commemorate the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). On that day, university students demonstrating for the recognition of Bengali as an official language were killed by police. The day is now a national holiday in Bangladesh. International Mother Language Day is an ...