Oriental College Kohima (OCK) celebrated International Mother Language Day at the college auditorium on 21 February 2025. The event aimed to promote linguistic diversity and raise awareness about the importance of preserving indigenous languages, a press release stated.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Khriereizhünuo Dzüvichü, Principal of OCK, highlighted the shift in societal attitudes toward language use. “There was a time when parents encouraged children to speak in English, but a reversal is observed these days,” she noted.

Dr. Dzüvichü emphasized the need to revive and preserve mother tongues, expressing concern that several Naga dialects are listed as vulnerable languages by UNESCO. She urged students to take initiative in researching and promoting the use of Naga dialects both within the state and beyond, underscoring the role of youth in safeguarding linguistic heritage.

The college informed that to mark the occasion, students from various semesters showcased diverse performances in their mother tongues. BA and B. Com 2nd semester students recited John 3:16, while those from the 4th semester presented a group song, and the 6th semester students delivered a news reading.

The event was chaired by Chubanenla Imchen, Dean of Students Welfare, OCK. The college is a home to students hailing from the Konyak, Pochury, Angami, Sumi, Lotha, Chakhesang, Phom, Ao, Rengma, Sangtam, and Zeliang tribes, as well as communities from Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nepal.