The future is vernacular

Why local languages deserve the spotlight

- Pankaj Dubey

India has been embracing and enlivening different cultures and vernacular languages and is a linguistically diverse country. According to the latest census data, India has 121 languages spoken by more than 10,000 people each and more than 19,500 documented mother tongues and dialects. These languages belong to several language families, chiefly Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austro-Asiatic, and Tibeto-Burman. Furthermore, they are poised to become a powerful tool for empowerment and innovation in India’s ever-changing landscape.

Languages are wisdom passed down through generations; they hold values and stories from ancient times. For many people, the heartiest conversations happen in their local languages. Through folklore and shared memories, they connect with their people and ensure that the history lives on through songs and words. But there are still many languages which are not known and deserve the spotlight.

Vibrant and diverse