Nagaland minister calls for preservation of Indian languages

Dimapur, Oct. 13 (EMN):  The minister of Higher Education and Technical Education Temjen Imna Along says that language carries cultural heritage and gives the opportunity to the speaker to represent the cultural heritage of their land. He has urged for preservation preserving of Indian languages and dialects.

The minister gave the statements as the chief guest of the valedictory function of the 14th international conference and golden jubilee of the English Language Teachers’ Association of India (ELTAI) on October 12 in Uttar Pradesh.

The four days’ event consisted of five hundred research paper presentations by English professors and teachers across the country and 23 foreign delegates; and talks and workshops besides a literary festival, a press release from Amity University on Sunday stated.

The event was hosted by Amity University, the updates stated.

In his speech at the event, Along said that the ‘The Bible says, in the beginning there was the Word and the Word was God; so language is power.’

“In the present world, one need not go with guns and ammunition, but once one equips oneself with language, one becomes powerful,” he said. He opined that “it is not just one’s knowledge of language that matters but the way one speaks that language which reveals the speaker’s character. Language carries cultural heritage and gives the opportunity to the speaker to represent the cultural heritage of their land in their act of speaking.”

The press release explained further that he even claimed that “Indian English is becoming global language.”

“With English language gaining importance everywhere, it is also important to preserve the diversity of our nation by preserving our Indian languages and dialects,” he said.

Also, Prof. Dr. Balvinder Shukla, vice chancellor of Amity University, said at the event that English teachers across the country have a continued responsibility to take the language to everyone in this country.

Dr. Shravan Kumar, organizing secretary of the conference, gave the vote of thanks. “There will be void after you leave. However it’s not an end. These voids are new openings to meet and move ahead,” the quoted press release quoted him as having said.