Saving Marma: A Queen's Quest

Dive into the incredible journey of Rani Ukhengching Marma, an MIT grad student on a quest to save her endangered language and uplift her community. From the heart of Bangladesh's Marma people, Ukheng's story is a testament to resilience, culture, and the power of education. With her role as a ceremonial queen, she's breaking barriers and inspiring change, proving that dreams are achievable, no matter where you come from. Discover her mission on MIT's platform – it's a tale of hope, identity, and the fight to preserve a rich heritage.

Unraveling the Tapestry of Language and Identity

Why does it matter if a language spoken by less than 200,000 people survives? Imagine a world where every time a language dies, a unique perspective on life, culture, and knowledge vanishes with it. This is the reality for the Marma language, an endangered tongue spoken by one of Bangladesh's largest Indigenous groups. For Rani Ukhengching Marma, preserving her language is a mission that transcends mere communication—it's about safeguarding a rich tapestry of ancestral lands, culture, and identity. The struggle of the Marma people highlights a global challenge: over 4,000 of the world's languages are spoken by Indigenous communities and are at risk. Understanding this issue connects us to a larger conversation about diversity, equity, and the power of language in shaping our understanding of the world and each other. For you, this might spark curiosity about your own language or dialect, its origins, and its impact on your identity.