Deccan Herald

Mangalore, Sep 2: In the name of development, over 5 crore people have been displaced over the 50 years in India, said Neenasam Prathishthana Director Prof T P Ashok.

Speaking at a workshop on ‘Displacement and literature’ organised under the joint aegis of Kannada Department of St Aloysius College and Neenasam Prathishthana, Heggodu, at St Aloysius College on Saturday, he said due to displacement, communities lose their language and memories. However, a few communities which were displaced have kept their identity intact.

The foremost example is the displacement of Jews 1,500 years ago, which is the greatest displacement in modern history. It finds mention in works like ‘Merchant of Venice’ while the torture they suffered under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler and their resettlement in 1948 after the II World War have been important topics in literary works.

The partition of India in 1948 is the next greatest example of displacement, which has become a central issue in literary works especially in north Indian languages.  Various films, documentaries and novels deal with the topic of displacement, he added.

St Aloysius College Principal Fr Swebert D’Silva said Mangalore too has been a witness to displacement during the setting up of MRPL and with the SEZs coming up in the City; more displacements will be witnessed soon.
Lauding the organisers of the workshop, he said such programmes help in improving knowledge.

Litterateur Na Damodar Shetty said such workshops are conducted every year to instill interest in culture and language among students.