Srinagar, Feb 21: In a bid to promote and highlight the importance of mother tongue, the cultural wing of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) today organized a series of events to commemorate International Mother Tongue Day.
The Day is being observed to promote preservation and protection of all languages being spoken by people of the world.
Various speakers highlighted the importance of mother tongue in framing the thinking and emotions of people.
Director SCERT, Professor Veena Pandita, while speaking on the occasion said that Mother tongue is a powerful tool in advancing the learning of students. She added that when the parents communicate with their children in their mother tongue while telling them stories and discussing day-to-day matters then they effortlessly follow and understand things resulting in educational success.
“Without a mother tongue, a child is deprived of its personal and cultural identity,” Prof Pandita maintained while saying that ‘Personal identity emanates from children’s understanding of themselves, their roots and their history’.
Principal Higher Secondary School, Gund Hassi Bhat, Mir Shabir, who is a poet and writer as well, elaborated on the importance of Kashmir language. “Persevering and protecting a mother tongue is the most important way of keeping a culture alive,” Mir asserted.
Noted journalist and language activist, Javed Matji, discussed the importance of Urdu language in Jammu and Kashmir. “Urdu is a symbol of unity that has tied people in a single cord regardless of religion or sect,” Matjee said.
Academic Officer, Sheikh Gulzar, gave a detailed presentation on three-language formula to promote multilingualism while as Dr Shabnam, Head of Department, Education in Languages, highlighted the importance of Hindi language in the country.
Javed Kirmani, in charge Documentation and Library SCERT, coordinated the program.
A similar function was organized at the divisional office of the SCERT at Jammu.
