In order to promote the spirit of National Integration, a webinar on Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat with the theme 'Languages and Literature' of Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was conducted today by the Press Information Bureau, Chennai and Jammu and Kashmir & Regional Outreach Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Eminent literary and linguistic personalities participated in this webinar and shared the rich and significant importance of the languages and literatures of Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

 

Elaborating on the rich and ancient history of Tamil literature, Senior Journalist and Writer, Shri. R. Nurullah said that the history of Tamil could be classified in to ancient, medieval and modern. “This particular period of Sangam age provided richest literatures not only to the Tamil language, but also to the whole world.”

Dr.T. Sivakumar, Assistant Director, Field Outreach Bureau, Puducherry and a Tamil scholar elucidated the special and unique features enjoyed by the Tamil language. “Tamil is one of the oldest languages which is rich in literature, language as well as grammar. Unlike other languages which have their roots in Devanagiri, Tamil has evolved through centuries from the roots of Brahmi script and inscriptions in stones and palm leaves.”

 

During his address, Professor Lalit Magotra, President, Dogri Sanstha, Jammu said that Dogri, an old language is spoken mostly in Jammu. Over 1000 folk songs and folk tales and idioms and proverbs are available in Dogri  thus making it a rich literature.

 

Shri. M. A. Tantray, Deputy Director, All India Radio, Srinagar, during his address about the Kashmiri language said that around 1 crore people from around the world speak the oldest and dominant language of the Indian sub continent. He said that the language has literary works that were written during the 13^th century which makes it more significant.

 

While addressing the participants about Ladakhi language, Dr. Thupstan Norboo, Editor(Ladakhi), Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Leh, said that after 70 years of struggle, the Union Territory has achieved its identity through culture and language. He said that being one of the most ancient Indian languages, Ladakhi as a lingua franca is spoken not only in Ladakh but also in other states like Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and even in countries like Mongolia, Bhutan, Tibet and parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

 

Earlier, Shri M. Annadurai, Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau, said that rich culture and tradition are important aspects of life and that there is a commonality between Tamil Siddhars and Kashmiri Sufis as the content of both are interrelated.

 

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