Modern History and International Organizations
International Mother Language Day & Bangla Movement | UPSC
Statement 2 is correct; the demand for Bangla as a national language was raised in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly. Statement 1 is incorrect because UNESCO, not UNICEF, declared International Mother Language Day.
Primary Reference: Standard Educational Reference
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
2021
Evidence Source
Link ↗Consider the following statements:
1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[UPSC CSE Pre 2021]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Language often serves as a primary driver of cultural identity and political mobilization, as seen in the history of the Indian subcontinent and international recognitions of linguistic diversity.
Authentic Source Evidence
UNESCO (not UNICEF) established International Mother Language Day to commemorate the 1952 language movement in East Bengal. Records of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly confirm the demand for Bangla.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"What was the significance of the 1952 Language Movement in East Bengal?"
It was a socio-political movement that asserted linguistic identity, eventually leading to the birth of Bangladesh as a separate nation based on cultural-linguistic pride.
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"The substitution of 'UNESCO' with 'UNICEF' is a common 'distractor' technique used by examiners to check for precise reading of organizational mandates."
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