Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, invited diplomats, journalists and people working from various walks of life in India, who have a knowledge of Hindi and endeavour to use it in bringing cultures closer. It is chaired by the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee is the Vice Chairperson. She is also the granddaughter of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. After an introduction by Ms. Gandhi Bhattacharjee and a key note address by Ranjan Mathai, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, the participants were felicitated and a very dynamic panel discussion ensued, kicked off by Sir Mark Tully, formerly of the BBC. People shared their personal and professional experiences on how the use of the local language had helped them in promoting a culture of peace and appreciating the national character.
 
In today’s globalized world, language has become a significant component to unlock cultural diversity, and in the words of Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, “it is a mirror of cultures which reflects not only to the reality, the actual value system and perception, but also serves as a bridge between cultures”. Mahatma Gandhi was extremely keen that one should learn languages and he encouraged that one should learn a new word of another language every day”. 
 

The United Nations is a world body, composed of nation-states, but also a place where various cultures, customs and languages meet”, said UNIC Director Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman. “It is diverse and therefore it is natural that multilingualism should be of particular importance, and the balance among the six official languages has been an ongoing concern of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. To ensure that UN goals and actions are understood by its global audience, we take this even further”, said UNIC Director.  “We try inasmuch as possible to tailor our activities using local languages when and if that is possible. This always creates a rapport with the people and we feel that the UN message gets across more easily”.

On 23 February, over 500 children joined UNIC Harare and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in commemorating International Mother Language Day. The children from Children in Performing Arts Workshop (CHIPAWO) Centres in Harare Norton, Domboshava, Chitungwiza and Bindura, performed traditional dance, drama and recited poetry in different local languages thereby demonstrating the cultural diversity and multilingualism existing in Zimbabwe.

The children also made totemic praises to demonstrate the need to master different and rich cultural forms of expressions and to emphasize and enlighten the audience on the importance of totems, their role in promoting identity and to strengthen relations. In addition, Emerald Hill School for the deaf taught some children sign language.

UNIC also mounted an exhibition of UN publications translated into Shona and Ndebele. These included the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Calendar of UN Observances.

Further, UNIC translated the International Mother Language Day message issued by the UNESCO’s Director-General, which was read in Shona at the event.

There are more than 16 languages spoken in Zimbabwe. These include Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa.

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999, and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2009. The Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism and to highlight greater awareness of the importance of mother tongue education.

 

 

 

 

 

For this year’s International Mother Language Day, the UN Information Centre, (UNIC) in Tokyo was invited to two events at The University of Electro-Cmmunications (UED), and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) respectively.

At UED, several activities were organized including a Mini-UN discussing themes about languages, fashion shows by international students wearing ethnic costumes, speeches conducted in mother tongues, and a lecture about the origins of languages. There were also different country booths set up by international and Japanese students, where students enjoyed learning languages and cultures. A unique international exchange took place.

At TUFS, after the address by the Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan and the President of TUFS, UNIC Tokyo’s representative read out UNESCO’s message for the Day and encouraged the university students to enhance their understanding of other cultures through learning languages.

Afterwards, about 100 students participated in an international exchange by reciting 12 language poetries and choruses. The students from different nationalities including Bangladesh, sang songs and showed their traditional dance. Bangla is one of the classes taught at the university which was added to the programme last spring as the 27th language.

On International Museum Day, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in New Delhi’s Director, Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman, inaugurated the opening of an exhibit titled ‘Crafting the Future’, gifted to the National Crafts Museum in New Delhi. The exhibit was conceptualized and created in 2007 by the UNIC, in conjunction with the UN system in India, with the aim of promoting and highlighting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
 
The exhibit is a creative dialogue between the United Nations and various artisans who presented their perspective on the Goals through their craft. It has been on display at UN House for the past five years. It will be displayed at the National Crafts Museum until 31 July 2012, after which it will form part of the Museum’s permanent collection.
 
Ms. Mehra-Kerpelman, said she was delighted that the exhibit had found a place at the Crafts Museum on a day that celebrates “the valuable role that museums play in shaping and enriching our lives.”
 
The exhibit was an attempt to connect with artists, to communicate the essence of the Goals to them, she added. “It reflects hopes and aspirations, and is therefore of enduring value. It reflects the future we want".