Bengali is our mother tongue. For this reason, a great urge prevails among the new generation of Bangladeshis, including the ones born in the United States, to acquire the language – not only to learn Bengali but to write it. But who will teach them? Their parents remain too busy with their jobs and there are few opportunities in the community to learn the language. Thus, if Bengali disappears in the America in the future, both the new generation and the old will be responsible for this loss. Bangladeshi guardians in New York observe and reflect on this concern.
Bangladeshis from different professions and fields were asked their opinion regarding the future of the Bengali language among the new generation in the United States. They believe that in order to learn Bengali, the Bangladeshi community needs to set up schools. The language, culture and heritage of the Bangladeshis in the United States will wither away if it is not properly practiced and learned. The struggle and movement for status would furthermore be jeopardized. As Bangladeshis, the history of our language is a matter of absolute pride to us. No other nation shed their blood for its language like Salam, Jabbar, Rafiq, [participants of the Bengali Language Movement of February 21, 1952, which fought to recognize Bengali as an official language in Pakistan, who died in the demonstration after being shot by police] and others did.
Nirmol Pala works for the city. His wife Shanta works as a physician. Their only daughter, Prottash, was born in this country. Nirmol told the Weekly Bangalee that his daughter, despite being born in the United States, wants to learn to speak Bengali. For her, the language has a strong appeal. Along with Bengali, Prottasha can also speak Narayanganj, a colloquial, regional language. Nirmol added that children who are born and raised in this country do not get the opportunity to speak Bengali in schools and colleges, and only speaking it with family members at home. Nonetheless, he said, these children love Bangladesh and its language. Even if most Bangladeshi guardians in this country cannot afford to spend enough time with the children due to long hours at work, it remains their responsibility to strengthen and boost their children's affinity for the country and the language.
Mahbub Alam, director of Jamaica-based Multi Services Inc., has two sons: the older one, Mahir Rahat, is in the eleventh grade, while the younger one, Samin Rahman, is in the third grade. Mabub Alam said that while his sons can speak Bengali, they feel more comfortable using English. "On many occasions, they even speak to us in English; however, if they speak English, we help them find the proper word in Bengali." Parents play a key role in keeping Bengali popular among the young generation. To ensure the language's survival, he said, the Bangladeshi community must move forward and establish schools, adding that just one school would not be enough.
Shamim Iqbal, a project manager at Sprint and owner of Hillside-based Tax & Accounting Service, said that his only child, 16-month-old Amiya, recently started to talk. "We speak Bengali with her. That way, when she grows up, she will not only be familiar with and used to the language, she will like it. Bengali is our mother tongue, our own language. The Bengali I teach her will be from the heart." Shamim Iqbal said that Bengali is the only language used in his household, adding that his nieces, Nafiza and Nafisa, students in the seventh and first grade respectively, are fluent speakers. It is a matter of pride for them.
Abdul Mannan, the general secretary of the Narayanganj Society and executive member of the Bangladesh Society, said that his son, Mushfiqur Rahman Tanvir, and his daughter, Saima, students in the eighth and second grade respectively, speak fluent Bengali and also know that many people sacrificed their lives for the language.
What will be the future of Bengali and how can it be maintained among the new generation? When these questions were posed to Mohammad Ullah, a renowned journalist, he replied that in order to instill a sense of respect for their roots, Bengali needs to be infused into their everyday lives. In this respect, parents must play a key role. Likewise, it is the duty of the community to take the proper steps to keep the language and culture of Bangladesh current and accessible. Mohammad Ullah said that it is natural for our kids to learn the language of the country in which they are born and raised. However, Bengali, their mother tongue, should still be learned as a second language. Schools should be setup to teach the language to the next generation. He added that the Bengali has already been introduced in some New York City schools as a foreign language. That is a positive sign.
Mohammad Ullah pointed out that there are no accurate statistics regarding Bangladeshis in America, since the category is not included in the Census form. As a result, the Bengali language does not get priority in offices and courts. If Bangladeshis living in America were included in the Census, the language would have gotten status and importance much earlier. To ensure the survival of the Bengali language, all of its speakers who live in New York should be included alongside the Bangladeshis. The language will benefit if all peoples who speak Bengali (both in Bangladesh and India) mark it as their mother tongue. Mohammad Ullah urges the Bangladeshi community to launch a campaign on this issue. Mohammad Ullah emphasized that it is everybody's duty to participate in the Census regardless of their legal status. There is nothing to be afraid of. The federal government is committed to ensuring that information provided for the Census will not be used for any other purpose.
Badrunnahar Khan Mita, president of the Jalalabad Association in Bangladesh, was born in the United States, and speaks fluent Bengali. She urges all parents to teach Bengali to the new generation. "Bengali is our mother tongue. Parents have the responsibility of educating their children about February 21st, The International Mother Language Day; sending their kids to school, and personally teaching them Bengali." It is also the duty of the community to teach Bengali to all Bangladeshi children "The new generation must be taught what Language Day, Independence Day and Victory Day are. If they learn their history, they will teach it to the next generation. This passing from generation to generation will ultimately ensure the survival of the Bengali language and culture," she added.
