The Future of Bangla in the Digital Age

Bangla is our mother tongue. However, in the present time, the tendency to learn English as an international or second language is steadily increasing. In our country, English is given greater importance in educational institutions as well as in various government and private organizations. Parents, in their desire to keep pace with the modern world, are becoming increasingly interested in enrolling their children in English version or English-medium education. As a result, our mother tongue is gradually being pushed into a corner. Under the influence of English, many Bangla words are falling out of use. Changes in pronunciation are also becoming noticeable. Children have become accustomed to using English words even while speaking in Bangla. This habit has significantly increased the use of “Banglish” as a medium of communication. Writing Bangla words in the English alphabet according to pronunciation is harming the practice of correct spelling and diminishing the natural beauty of pronunciation. Students are becoming habituated to writing Bangla in Roman script instead of using Bangla letters. Roman script refers to writing Bangla words or sentences using the English alphabet. In recent times, it has been observed that a large number of students feel more comfortable writing Bangla in Roman script online. In this era of information technology, social media has become an important means of communication. In these spaces, many people, while attempting to write Bangla in English letters, have created a hybrid, mixed language. The excessive use of mixing English with Bangla is increasing rapidly. As a result, the Bangla language is losing its original sweetness and the purity of its pronunciation. The rich and diverse system of Bangla spelling is silently deteriorating; the habit of practicing correct spelling is gradually fading away. Approximately two and a half thousand years ago, the Brahmi script originated in the Indian subcontinent. Bangla is the evolved form of an ancient language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family, shaped through many stages of development. Today, nearly 300 million people speak Bangla. Based on the number of native speakers, Bangla ranks as the sixth largest language in the world. Bangla is the state language of Bangladesh. It received constitutional recognition as the state language in 1956, following a blood-stained history of struggle. In the history of the world, Bangladesh stands as a unique country where brave sons sacrificed their lives for the right to speak their mother tongue. The core spirit of the Language Movement of 1952 was love for language, and its main inspiration was the mother tongue. Although the demand began in 1948, the nation secured its linguistic rights through the bloody events of 1952. Through the sacrifice of the language martyrs, Bangla achieved official recognition. Their sacrifice continues to remind generations of the importance of protecting the mother tongue. In this month of language remembrance, out of respect for the language martyrs, the people of our country must realize the importance of proper usage and correct spelling of Bangla. To keep pace with the modern world, we must highlight to the next generation the importance of Bangla dictionaries alongside English dictionaries. This will encourage them to reduce the use of hybrid language in digital communication and to practice pure Bangla. In the month of language, calling for the preservation of the purity of our mother tongue is our moral responsibility. Through collective efforts, we must teach the new generation the proper use of Bangla. By utilizing modern technology, we can encourage children to read Bangla stories, and inspire them to write essays, poems, and stories in Bangla. Greater attention should be given to the use of correct spelling on social media. Children must be encouraged to read and write in Bangla. To achieve this goal, appropriate use of modern apps can help develop their habit of reading Bangla. To monitor progress, various competitive events promoting correct Bangla practice should be organized. Online writing competitions can help the new generation become more mindful of their mother tongue. Opportunities for creative expression will nurture their love for the language. Rewarding winners will boost their confidence and strengthen their sense of responsibility toward their mother tongue. To honor the great sacrifices of the martyrs and raise awareness about the importance of the mother tongue, government and private institutions should take initiatives to promote language education. To attract young people to Bangla, the use of Bangla e-book websites should be expanded. These websites should provide easy access to books on various subjects, including novels, short stories, and poetry written in Bangla. Necessary initiatives should be taken to introduce online editions of famous Bangla books. Educational videos created in Bangla will enrich their knowledge and help them learn correct Bangla. Additionally, language-based quiz games can improve spelling and vocabulary skills. In this age of technology, such online activities make the journey of practicing Bangla easier and more engaging. Online reading circles focusing on Bangla language, history, and culture can further promote the use of Bangla. It is our collective duty to make today’s children and adolescents more attentive to practicing correct Bangla. Preserving the dignity of the language earned through the blood of the martyrs is a moral commitment for our generation. We must remember that the future path of the Bangla language rests in the hands of this digital generation. Therefore, we must inspire them to take interest in Bangla and practice it correctly. Only then will the honor of the Bangla language be preserved, and one day Bangla will be respected and celebrated across the world.