Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav
CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
(An Autonomous Organisation under the Ministry of Education, Govt., of India)
CBSE/ACAD/DS(RD)/2022
December 07, 2022
Circular No. Acad-153/2022
All the Heads of Schools affiliated to CBSE
Subject: Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav – reg.
Dear Principals
India has a rich linguistic heritage. The National Education Policy 2020 highlights multilingualism and visualises Indian Languages as a great tool for national unity. It suggests that the students of the country should be encouraged to learn the importance of Indian Languages under the ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ initiative.
Bharatiya Languages have co-existed, complemented and nurtured each other throughout the ages. There is a need to:
- strengthen language harmony
- develop a conducive environment for learning more and more Indian Languages apart from mastering one’s own mother tongue
- develop an attitude and aptitude to love and enjoy the neighbouring language.
To catalyse the above need, Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav is being celebrated on 11th December on the Janma Jayanti of Subramania Bharati, the great Nationalist Poet.
Objectives of the Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav
- To acquaint the students and youth about the inherent oneness of all Bharatiya Bhashas i.e the concept of ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Parivar’
- To celebrate the rich variety and wonders of Bharatiya Bhashas
- To make students and youth aware about the spiritual and cultural message emanating from the literature of all Bhashas
- To show how language learning can be a fun and enjoyable experience
- To highlight the need to focus on Bharatiya Bhashas for the development of the nation and ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’
School Heads are requested to celebrate the ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav’ by encouraging participation of students, staff, parents and other stakeholders in different activities as suggested in annexure A. The central themes/messages of the occasion may be highlighted or conveyed during the utsav using appropriate slogans eg. ‘Bharatiya Bhashayen for Unity and Harmony’, Bhashayen Anek Parantu Bhaav Ek’, ‘Vividhata mein Ekata’, Ekata mein Vividhata’, ‘Bharatiya Bhashayen’, ‘Bharatiya Gyan Paramapara aur Bharatiyata’, Bharatiyata ke liye Bharatiya Gyan Parampara’, ‘Bharatiya Gyan Parampara ke liye Bharatiya Bhashayen’, etc.
The Utsav may be celebrated as a part of the Bhasha Sangam, Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat or any other as applicable to augment the resources.
Please send the report of the celebration of t he Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav at the following link on or before 13th December 2022: CBSE
Dr. Joseph Emmanuel
Director (Academics)
Suggestive Activities to celebrate ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav’
1. Bharatiya Bhasha Exhibition
A. Consist of basic and interesting information about various Indian Languages with their history, key literature, etc.
B. Introduce interesting words of various Indian Languages. For example, use of greeting words in different languages such as Namaste, Pranam, Vanakkam, Sat-Shri-Akal, Namaskaragalu, etc.
C. Convey the message that all Indian Languages come under ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Pariwar’ and they should not be classified in divisive colonial connotations through posters / slogans / information bulletins, etc.
D. Highlight that all Indian Languages with a large body of common vocabularies, common sentence patterns, common roots, common vowels and consonants and common underlying grammar have a common ancestry and are one of the great unifying factors of our country.
2. Bharatiya Bhasha Stalls
(One dedicated stall of the language(s) of that particular state/region and at least one stall for the states of North, South, East and West region)
A. Each stall to offer interesting information about the languages of the concerned State / region.
B. Books / literature in different languages available can be kept for display and sale at minimal prices (if possible). The same books in different languages may also be displayed.
C. Interesting activities may be organized to make participants realize that for a person who knows one Indian Language, learning another Indian language is not like learning a new language.
3. Language Games
A. Language games as unique fun activities with interesting and thrilling experiences may be organized. For example, Identifying the word with a picture, identifying the correct grammar or spelling, speaking for 30 seconds in a chosen language, etc.
4. Food Corners
A. A food corner having cuisines representing our diverse regions along with name posters may be put up. Similar food items with some regional diversity may be added to the menu.eg. North Indian Parantha and Malabar Parantha.
5. Cultural Programmes
Following cultural programmes may be organized to encourage creativity through Indian languages:
A. Creative performances depicting language-related Lok-parampara, folk culture or art forms of different regions.
B. Singing and dancing competition s or open stage / mic / talent hunt for students and staff to perform in any language of their choice.
C. Street plays or dramas depicting epics of different languages like ‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam’, modern books like ‘Pooniyin Selvan’ or any other newly prepared play focusing on unity in the diversity of our country.
6. Wearing Ethnic Dresses
A. Students, staff and parents may come dressed in ‘Bharatiya Paridhan’ like dhoti, kurta, various shades of saree showing the rich cultural heritage and history of our country.
7. Competitions:
A. Language Quiz may be organized at intra school/inter school level (inviting nearby schools) in which questions related to languages may be asked and students can participate in teams of 2 or 3.
B. Speech / Debate / Extempore competitions in multiple languages having a significant number of students may be organized. The theme of such competitions can be ‘India as One Linguistic Area’, ‘Bharat ki Ekta aur Akhandata mein Bharatiya Bhashaon ka Yogdaan’, ‘Bhasha Jodne ka Saadhan ya Todne ka’, Bharatiya Bhashayen for Unity and Harmony’, etc.
C. Poetry recitation and writing competition in different languages.
8. ‘My Language, My Signature’
A. Adequately sized boards / flex may be erected at the popular/central point of the school campus on which the willing students / teachers / parents can mark their signature in their own Indian Language.
B. A pledge may also be written on top of the Board regarding doing own sign in the Indian Language wherever possible or developing a habit of signing in Indian Languages.
9. Felicitation of multi-lingual students
A. Students who may read, write and speak in multiple languages may be felicitated. The cognitive, economic, social and cultural benefits of multilingualism to individuals, society and the country, as a unifying factor, be explained to encourage multilingualism among students.
B. Students can speak the same sentence in multiple languages making it an enjoyable exercise for the audience as well. Certificates or books may be given to such students as encouragement.
10. Tech Zone
A. A technical zone consisting of tech-savvy amenities and facilities showing different tools and software that students may use to learn, read and write in multiple languages.
B. Downloading and teaching of simple software on smartphones which converts English content into Hindi and other Bharatiya languages or vice versa through Roman typing may be done on the spot. Other software which help in typing and translation of vocabulary and sentences in multiple languages may be showcased.
Source: CBSE