TURA: A seminar to mark the International Mother Language Day was held recently by the Garo Department of the North Eastern Hill University in collaboration with the A’chik Literature Society (ALS) at the former’s campus in Tura.
During the seminar, twenty scholars presented their papers on various aspects of A∙chik language and literature.
Speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion, Prof G Singaiah, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, NEHU Tura stressed the need to realise the great value of our language and the people should continue to speak and write in their own language.
Earlier, Prof Caroline R Marak emphasised the need to speak, preserve, nurture and develop each language, its dialects or varieties, because a language is the sum of all the varieties taken together. There is a need to create awareness as, according to the findings of the UNESCO, about 50% of the world’s 7000 (seven thousand) languages are feared to become extinct within this century, and every two weeks one language is dying, she added.
Executive member of the ALS, Prof Milton S Sangma said that local names of medicinal plants and myriads of other items should be preserved. He added that in order to create awareness International Mother Tongue Day should be celebrated everywhere. He pointed out that the A∙chiks have a huge number of local traditions in oral form and that the seminar was a great wake- up call to preserve our identity and existence in the international family.
Three books by Author, Prabodh M Sangma- ‘Gapchilekni Bikrok’, ‘Bubbles of Thought’ and ‘Tribals of the North-East and the Garos’ were released by the Chief Guest along with all the other dignitaries present.