Mysuru: The language, culture and traditions of India’s tribal communities must be protected and preserved as part of the country’s rich cultural diversity, said Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister T Raghumurthy on Monday.
Speaking at the inaugural session of a three-day national conference in Mysuru, Raghumurthy stressed the need to give greater priority to documenting, preserving and reviving tribal languages.
He said the loss of a tribal language would mean more than the disappearance of a means of communication. It could also lead to the loss of a community’s culture, traditions and traditional knowledge passed down generations.
“Tribal communities across the country have diverse languages, dialects and cultural practices. These languages carry valuable knowledge about forests, biodiversity and the relationship between communities and nature,” he said.
Raghumurthy expressed concern over an increasing number of young people from some tribal communities distancing themselves from their mother tongues. He called for concerted efforts to ensure that tribal languages and cultural traditions are passed on to future generations.
He also called for the preparation of comprehensive language profiles covering the vitality of tribal languages, number of speakers, geographical spread, intergenerational transmission, use in education, availability of written and digital resources and the extent of documentation already undertaken.
“A scientific assessment of the status of each language can help authorities design targeted programmes for its preservation, revival and development,” he said.
The minister also stressed the need to digitally document and preserve historical and cultural records of tribal communities so that they remain accessible to future generations.
Union minister Durga Das Uikey, MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, senior officials from various departments and representatives of tribal communities attended the programme.