New Delhi, 03 July, Highlighting the critical state of some languages, the Vice President Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu today emphasized that preservation of our languages is key to protecting our cultural traditions. ‘Language is the lifeline of any culture. While language strengthens culture, culture strengthens society’, he said.
Citing
a UN report that one language in the world becomes extinct every two weeks,
Shri Naidu expressed concern that there are 196 Indian languages which are
currently endangered. The Vice President called for concerted action to reverse
this and hoped that all Indians would unite and move forward to preserve our
languages.
The
Vice President was virtually addressing the first anniversary celebrations of
‘Antharjatiya Samskruthika Sammelanam-2021’, hosted by Sri Samskruthika
Kalasaradhi, a cultural organisation in Singapore. Describing expatriate
Indians as cultural ambassadors, the Vice President commended them for keeping
Indian values and customs alive and that India is proud of their role in
spreading our ancient values.
Shri
Naidu, underscoring the need to preserve our languages, reiterated that the
medium of education should be in mother tongue up to primary and secondary
education. He advised gradually extending the use of our mother tongues in
technical education. He also stressed the need for having the language of
administration and the judiciary to be in the local language to be more
accessible to people. He urged everyone to be proud of their mother tongue and
to speak in that language with their family, in their community and on other
occasions.
Observing that the definition of culture, according to UNESCO, encompasses
not only art and literature, but lifestyles, ways of living together,
value systems and traditions too, the Vice President said that
Indian culture is unique in its humanist worldview and its approach towards nature.
He pointed out that conservation of nature is integral to Indian culture,
evident from our worship of trees, rivers, wildlife and cattle. Similarly,
Indian values view the world as one family and that we must not forget our
ancient philosophy of ‘share and care’, he said.
Shri
Naidu said that COVID-19 has increased mental stress among people and
practising spiritualism can relieve their tension. Religious and spiritual
leaders must reach out to the people and help them overcome this stress, he
appealed.
Noting
that India is a home of many languages and cultures, Shri Naidu stressed that
unity in diversity is what holds us all together. He added that diversity in
language is the foundation of a great civilization and that our civilisational
values expressed themselves through its languages, music, arts, sports and
festivals. ‘Political boundaries might change, but our mother tongue and our
roots won’t change’, he said, calling for a united effort to preserve and
protect our mother tongues.
The
Vice President noted that while it is important to preserve one’s own language
and tradition, it is equally important to respect the language and culture of
others.
Shri
Vijayendra Saraswathi, Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadhipati, Shri Maganti Murali
Mohan, former MP, Shri Mandali Buddhaprasad, former Deputy Speaker, AP
Assembly, Shri Ratna Kumar Kavuturu, Founder President of Sri Samskruthika
Kalasaradhi, Singapore and others were present during the virtual event.