Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik with the faculty and staff of
Nagaland University during the Mother Language Day celebration in Lumami on
February 21.
DIMAPUR — Mother Language Day was celebrated across the
campuses of Nagaland University on February 21, with Prof. Jagadish Kumar
Patnaik, vice-chancellor, attending the programme as the chief guest in the
conference hall of the department of Political Science, Lumami.
According to a press release, Patnaik, speaking on the
occasion, asserted that the mother language is a matter of one’s identity.
Emphasising the significance of preserving and promoting mother languages, he
urged everyone to strengthen their languages, improvising where necessary, and
develop their identities.
A programme was also organised by the department of Tenyidie
at the Kohima campus, where the cultural heritage of the state’s various mother
tongues was showcased through folk songs, Tati songs, storytelling, and poetry
reading by the students and scholars of the department.
Meguo Mechüluo, a member of the Ura Academy, and Prof. Buno
Zetsuvi, department of Education, Nagaland University, exhorted the attendees
on the need to prioritise one's parent language and also be active contributors
to its growth, sustainability, and development.
At the Department of Linguistics, the research scholars also
took the initiative to celebrate Mother Language Day with an open mic event at
the university’s Kohima campus.
The event featured a range of performances, including poetry
recitals, songs, and stories, in around 19 mother languages, such as Mizo,
Assamese, Tangsa (Arunachal Pradesh), and Nepali.
Pro vice-chancellor, Prof. GT Thong, in a short speech,
highlighted the importance of preserving mother languages. Scholars and
students from various departments also took part in the event, promoting
linguistic diversity.
Meanwhile, a new administrative block at the School of
Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Medziphema Campus, Nagaland University, was
inaugurated on Monday in a formal ceremony attended by dignitaries, faculty,
and staff.
The event was attended by Patnaik as the chief guest and
chaired by Prof. Akali Sema, pro vice-chancellor of Medziphema Campus,
according to a press release.
Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik highlighted the role of
modern infrastructure in fostering academic excellence and administrative
efficiency. He urged the faculty and research staff to engage in high-quality
research that contributes meaningfully to the field of agriculture and allied
sciences.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to further infrastructure
development within the university, recognising its vital role in fostering
academic excellence and innovation.
Reports and observations on the development were presented
by officials from the Development Authority Nagaland (DAN) and Merijan, junior
engineer at Nagaland University, SAS.
