Mangaluru: “India is a land of many languages. Language binds us and literature unites us all. A single culture will lead to extremism, whereas being multi-cultural takes us to different ways of communication. Language may differ in words and dialect based on the region, but still, it binds various communities and cultures together and that is its power,” said Dr A M Khan, Registrar of Mangalore University.
He was speaking after inaugurating the ‘Bhasha Sangam 2020’, a multi-lingual language conference, at the Milagres College hall on February 10.
“Today there is a need to build a strong nation and encourage students to learn different languages as they will help them become more open-minded. They should be encouraged to be multi-cultural in thought and open-minded and to read and write literature. Given the advent of technology and its ill-effects on students, it’s high time to turn back to our olden days of reading books and this habit needs to be improved in the current students,” he further opined.
Maggie Harris, poet, prose-writer and visual artist was the chief guest and delivered the keynote address.
Milagres College principal Fr. Michael Santhumayor welcomed the gathering. Fr. Joseph Lobo, correspondent, Milagres College, Dr. Fr. Joseph Martis, Professor, and Head, Dept. of Philosophy, St Joseph’s Seminary, Dr. Fr. Pratapananda Nail, Director, Thomas Stephens Konkani Kendr, Goa, Dr Jayavantha Nayak, Co-ordinator, Konkani Adhyayan Peeta, Mangalore University, Dr. Lourdusamy, Academic Advisor, Milagres College, and Mamatha, event Co-ordinator were present.
The day-long event will have technical sessions and paper presentations by experts in English, Hindi, Kannada, and Konkani.
The event is organised in association with Mangalore University English, Kannada, Hindi Teachers Association and Konkani Adhyayan Peeta, Mangalore University.
