Jagriti's Aarya Babbar on celebrating International Mother Language Day: For me, Punjabi is an emotion, music, legacy...

International Mother Language Day is a global yearly celebration conducted on February 21 to raise awareness of linguistic and cultural variety, as well as to promote multilingualism. UNESCO first proclaimed it on November 17, 1999, and the United Nations General Assembly legally recognised it with the ratification of a UN resolution in 2002.
Mother Language Day is part of a larger campaign "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by people around the world," as adopted by the UN General Assembly on May 16, 2007, in a UN resolution that also declared 2008 the International Year of Languages.
Aarya Babbar, who essays the role of Kalikant Thakur in Jagriti-Ek Nayi Subah said, “For me, Punjabi is more than just a language —it’s emotion, music, legacy, celebration, and an entire way of life. I grew up listening to my father’s stories in pure, unfiltered Punjabi, and today, I have the privilege of bringing that cultural richness to my work in Punjabi cinema. Every dialogue, every song, and every film is a tribute to the soul of Punjab. Even when I travel abroad, meeting a fellow Punjabi and exchanging a simple ‘Sat Sri Akal’ brings a sense of belonging. On this day, I urge everyone to speak their mother tongue proudly, ensuring that future generations cherish its beauty. Let’s keep our language alive, not just in words but in our hearts and daily lives.”
Recently, Arya Babbar quietly criticised Prateik Babbar for not inviting him, Raj Babbar, and Juhi Babbar to his wedding. He recently published a clip on Instagram that included one of his stand-up comedy videos. In the video, Arya joked about asking his father, Raj Babbar, what he should say when the media questions him about skipping his brother's wedding, just as he had to answer questions about his father's supposed romantic relationships when he was younger.