Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 12: Bhasha Sangam - 2020, a one-day multilingual international conference on 'Multiculturalism in Language and Literature' was organized on February 10 by the department of Languages of Milagres College.
Dr A M Khan, registrar, Mangalore University, the chief guest inaugurated the conference symbolically. In his inaugural address he said that India is a land of many cultures and languages, but unfortunately it is forgotten. Languages bind people, regions, community and culture, Literature unites them. One language is influenced and connected to other languages and it cannot exist on its own. Mono-culturalism leads to extremism which leads to depression among people. Open-mindedness is a portal to multiculturalism. People need to be multicultural in language and thought. He encouraged the students to read and write literature.
Maggie Harris, poet and short fiction storywriter from England, delivered the keynote address. Addressing the gathering she said, "Every individual has his/her own cultural identity irrespective of the land they belong to. The migration of people has had a great impact on shaping their identities.
Fr Joseph Lobo, correspondent, Fr Michael L Santhumayor, principal, Dr Jayavantha Nayak, coordinator, Konkani Adhyayan Peeta, Mangalore University Fr Pratapananda Naik S J, Konkani writer, Goa, Fr Joseph Martis, professor and head, department of Philosophy St Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu, Prof Lourdusamy and Dr Mamatha N R conference convenors were present on the dais.
Speaking on the occasion, Fr Joseph Lobo, correspondent and president of the conference congratulated the language departments for organizing the international conference. Fr Michael L Santhumayor welcomed the gathering. Dr Mamatha N R proposed the vote of thanks.
The inaugural ceremony was followed by two technical sessions in their respective languages namely English, Hindi, Kannada and Konkani. Eminent resource persons Dr Efthikar Ahamed, Dr Rajalakshmi, Dr Madhavi S Bhandary, Dr Seema Chandran, Dr B P Sampath Kumar, Dr Rathnakara Mallamoole, Valley Quadros and moderators within the state and outside deliberated on the topic of the technical sessions.
The second session in the afternoon was paper presentation. Academicians, research scholars and students of various universities and degree colleges of the state and foreign delegates presented papers. There were a total of 202 participants out of which 142 papers were presented by the participating delegates. Fr Dr Praveen Martis S J, principal St Aloysius College (Autonomous) was the chief guest of the valedictory function. He congratulated the college for organizing this international conference Bhasha Sangam of such magnitude which was not just an attempt made to bring languages together but to try to understand the essence and influence of it in concrete terms. The use of language and literature should bring joy and happiness and transform them as patrons of the same.
Prof Lourdusamy welcomed the gathering, Anusha Jose faculty department of English, compered the programme. Sowmya Kotian, Kannada faculty proposed the vote of thanks.