Jamshedpur, Feb 21: A vibrant display of linguistic and cultural harmony marked the celebration of International Mother Language Day at the Sidhgora Campus of Jamshedpur Women’s University. The event emphasized the importance of mother tongues in preserving cultural heritage and promoting linguistic diversity.
The program commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by the release of a book authored by Dr. Tayyaba Sheikh, a faculty member of the English Department. The book encapsulates her experiences and emotional journey from childhood to motherhood.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Sahu, Head of the Humanities Department, introduced the theme of the event and stressed the need to revive endangered cultures. In his welcome speech, he highlighted the historical and cultural struggles associated with languages, emphasizing that language is a collective creation of multiple communities. He asserted that justice for mother tongues could only be achieved when education is imparted in native languages. He also spoke about Sanskrit as the root of many languages, explaining its scientific evolution from Pali.
The cultural segment began with a mesmerizing Sanskrit song performed by Ruby Pradhan and Aastha Sharma from the Sanskrit Department. Dr. Rama Subramanyam, Controller of Examinations, spoke about the significance of Tamil and encouraged everyone to take pride in their native languages. Bhavana Kumari from the Geography Department recited a heartfelt Maithili poem, while Sunaina Ojha from the Oriya Department shared her self-composed poetry.
Dr. Rizwana Parveen, Chairperson of the Urdu Department, compared the importance of one’s mother tongue to that of a mother. Citing the famous phrase, “Mazhab nahi sikhata aapas mein bair rakhna” (Religion does not teach hatred among people), she emphasized that linguistic diversity should be embraced while upholding national unity.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Anjila Gupta extended warm wishes on the Silver Jubilee of International Mother Language Day. She described the multilingual atmosphere of the event as a representation of “Mini India.” She highlighted the spiritual significance of mantras, verses, and traditional phrases in different cultures and underscored the importance of mastering one’s mother tongue, drawing inspiration from scholars such as Agastya Muni, Charak, and Sushruta, who made remarkable contributions through their linguistic expertise.
The celebration continued with a group song by Nikita Kumari, Neha Tirkey, and Manisha Das from the English Department. Mondrita Chatterjee from the Hindi Department captivated the audience with a traditional Malayalam dance, while a group of Hindi Department students presented a folk dance depicting Jharkhand’s rich cultural traditions through the “Ho” dance form. Falak Zarin from the Urdu Department enthralled the audience with a soulful ghazal, while Beauty Chakraborty and Parvati Mahato from the Bengali Department rendered solo songs.
The event was skillfully moderated by Dr. Pushpa Kumari and Kumari Nisha, while Dr. Nupur Anvita Minj delivered the vote of thanks. The celebration was graced by the presence of Dean of Student Welfare Dr. Kishwar Ara, Controller of Examinations Dr. Rama Subramaniam, various department heads, faculty members, and students, making the event a grand success in promoting linguistic and cultural inclusivity.
