JAMSHORO: The role of indigenous languages in safeguarding both cultural heritage and environmental stability was highlighted at a seminar held in the Sindh University on Monday, says a press release.

The event was organised in connection with the International Mother Language Day, observed on February 21.

The seminar, titled ‘Protection of Ecology through Mother Languages’ was held in the Pir Hisamuddin Shah Rashdi Auditorium under the auspices of the Institute of Sindhology.

Eminent linguists, intellectuals and scholars underscored the challenges facing languages like Sindhi in the modern era, and stressed the urgent need to preserve them.

Speaking to the audience, they said that there are 26 major languages spoken by nearly half of the world’s total population. The remaining over 50pc population speaks around 6,000 other languages, they added.

Seminar held at Sindh University to mark International Mother Language Day

SU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Marri, who chaired the seminar, appreciated the diversity of viewpoints shared during the deliberations.

“The real vulnerability today lay not in the Sindhi language itself, but in the broader ecology of research, institutions and infrastructure,” he said.

According to him, although Sindhi has three major dialects in Sindh, there is no conflict among them.

Writer Jami Chandio described the 21st century as an era of immense knowledge, as well as serious threats to linguistic diversity.

Referring to certain Unesco reports, he noted that languages are disappearing at an alarming rate, and estimated that only 200 or so out of the over 6,000 languages might survive in the long run due to sociological, economic and demographic factors.

Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi said Sindhi is more than 5,000 years old and has a rich written tradition.

Citing archaeological evidence emanating from Mohenjo Daro and other historical sites, he said that ancient inhabitants of the region appeared to be familiar with writing in local scripts, as well as in the languages of ruling empires.

He said that language could serve as a powerful tool for safeguarding cultural and environmental ecology.

Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) Chairman Dr Sher Mahrani pointed out that while people offer prayers in Arabic, educate their children in English, they they often neglected their own mother tongue.

He argued that languages of living communities do not die naturally, but they weaken when their speakers abandon them.

He stressed that foundational knowledge should be imparted to people in their mother tongue, though learning other languages is equally important.

Scholar Shafqat Qadri observed that nearly 20pc of world’s languages disappeared between 1970 and 2005.

He remarked that “languages are not dying, rather being killed” by social attitudes and policy choices, particularly when parents prefer English-medium schooling over native-language instruction.

Referring to global linguistic data, he noted that 26 major languages were spoken by nearly half of the world’s population, while the remaining population spoke around 6,000 languages.

Dr Shazia Pitafi, the Director of Dr N.A. Baloch Chair, highlighted the emotional and cognitive bond between a child and the mother tongue, saying that abandoning one’s native language in favour of another results in cultural loss.

Institute of Sindhology Director Dr Fayaz Latif urged the seminar participants to pledge never to forget their mother tongue, emphasising that there is no substitute for one’s native language.

He underscored the link between language, identity and environmental consciousness.

The seminar commenced with the recitation of a poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai by Dr Zulfiqar Ali Qureshi.

The proceedings were moderated by Dr Ghulam Ali Buriro and attended by faculty members, students and scholars in a large number.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2026