'Learn languages, conserve culture'

The importance of preserving and learning languages was  highlighted at the inauguration function of the three-day international conference on status and significance of Indian languages for East-West understanding, organised by the city-based Aikyabharati Research Institute on Friday.

Founder-director of the Pune-based Institute for the Study of Religion, Fr Fransis X Dsa, who gave the inaugural address said, “The talent to learn languages is innate in Indians. We need to open up to other languages and religions to preserve Indian languages.”

Dsa stressed the need to preserve languages and said, “ If we do not preserve languages, they will deteriorate. Religion reveals itself through language. Culture can be protected only if language is protected.”

According to him, Indians were  multilingual and they needed to build on this inner talent, open up to other religions and learn and preserve languages. 

Dsa said that while information technology helped to understand information,  language helped one to understand the world. “It’s the bearer of culture which has been kept alive by writers since ages,” he said.

President of Deccan College, GB Deglurkar, and director of Chennai’s Ramanuja Mission Trust, Chaturvedi Swami, were the other guests at the function. 

On day one of the conference, participants shared their views and observations regarding Indian languages, translation from foreign languages and impact on
Indian culture.