Itanagar, Jan 12: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed deep concern over the rapid decline in the use of mother tongues among younger generations in Arunachal Pradesh.
Referring to recent observations within the Aka community, the Chief Minister said it was “deeply concerning” to learn that only about 7–8 per cent of the youth are able to speak their native language.
He noted that the situation is not unique to the Aka community and reflects a wider challenge faced by many tribal communities across the State, where indigenous languages are steadily losing ground to dominant languages.
Emphasizing the critical role of families in language preservation, Khandu, who attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Sarok Festival of the Aka (Hrusso) community at Bana in Bichom district on Saturday, said that elders and parents must consciously ensure that children speak and learn their mother tongue at home and in daily life.
“Preserving our language is not someone else’s responsibility. Each one of us must do our part to keep our languages alive for future generations,” he said.
The Chief Minister stressed that language is the foundation of culture, identity, and traditional knowledge, and its loss would weaken the cultural fabric of tribal societies. He urged communities, educational institutions, and social organizations to work collectively to promote the use of indigenous languages through daily conversation, storytelling, cultural activities, and local initiatives.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to safeguarding Arunachal Pradesh’s rich linguistic heritage, Khandu called upon citizens to take personal responsibility in nurturing their mother tongues so that the State’s diverse cultural legacy continues to thrive for generations to come.
Khandu has attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Sarok Festival of the Aka (Hrusso) community at Bana in Bichom district on Saturday last, marking 50 years of the festival as a symbol of cultural heritage and continuity.