International Mother Language Day, recognized by UNESCO, was recently celebrated by Cumberland Council at the Red Gum Centre. The event featured a vibrant array of multilingual performances, with many young people proudly representing their heritage languages.
The purpose of Mother Language Day is to preserve and promote linguistic and cultural diversity within our community. With more than 120 languages spoken across the Cumberland area, the Council has been marking this occasion for over a decade, inviting multicultural and multilingual communities including the Indigenous community to participate and celebrate.
This year’s program commenced with a Welcome to Country delivered by Uncle Shane Laws, followed by a heritage performance by students from Hilltop Road Public School. The celebration also included a lively story time session for young readers and a book launch to encourage writing in mother languages.
Youth from the Tamil community delivered thoughtful presentations on the antiquity and modern relevance of the Tamil language. The event also featured children’s activities, cultural performances, and speeches highlighting the enduring importance of mother tongues.
Representatives attended from the Tamil School of Wentworthville, Tamil Valarchi Manram, Services Australia, and the Western Sydney Local Health District, along with community leaders such as Dr Chandrika Subramaniyan, Nirmal Paul, and many others.
In honour of the Tamil language, a book titled Thirukkural: A Holistic Blueprint for Effective Government, authored by Dr Chandrika Subramaniyan, was officially released by Councillor Suman Saha. The book presents research on the ancient Tamil didactic text Thirukkural, exploring its timeless insights on good governance and ethical leadership, drawn from a work that dates back nearly three millennia.
-Chandrika Subramaniyan
