KARACHI: Bangladeshi Deputy Council hosted an experience sharing seminar at Avari Towers (Karachi) on Sunday 21st February to commemorate International Mothers Tongue Day. Many eminent scholars,writers and prominent political figures like Mr. Jawed Jabbar were present at the event. Speakers brought in the limelight the emotional significance of the language of the region -Sindhi and its contribution to literary world.
Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO's General Conference in November 1999. The International Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingual ism.
Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
7 comments:
Glad to see steps are being taken to preserve our cultural heritage. While Sindhi topi day & this - both are noteworthy it is also important to consider how far is the reach of such preservation tactics.
yes it was amazing how they chose such an awkward day to organize such an event to see if people are really in love with their mother language and still people did come in quite a big number to support the cause.
happy to see the efforts to preserve something - well if i try to be a devils advocate, preserving a language doesnt cost a thing does it.
how about people also start thinking abt preserving the heritage sites, which are in abundance in pakistan. fancy the Makli tomb, Moen jo daro and the indus valley sites?
Hi Sana, I totally agree with you, language is a very important part of the cultural heritage, be it that of any country in this world.
You've moulded the last para of your post beautifully!
Thanks and have a great week ahead!
Aamir Language is a very important component of any culture or heritage. If you are to appreciate the beauty of such sites which have architectural and cultural significance so language is the tool through which one expresses it.
the irony of the situation was that most of the speakers there were talking about preservation of one's mother tongue-sindhi in "English" unless it was pointed out by one of the senior scholars present there.
Sana: Thanks for such encouraging feedback.
I think the idea of the seminar must have been the preservation as well as the promotion of ones mother tongue. therefore conversing in english i guess was just a means to reach to the masses, or atleast the general audience present there..
The audience present there were mainly urdu and sindhi speaking except few scholars who were multi lingual.Nonetheless great initiative taken.
Post a Comment