R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI/DWARKA, APR 25
A language workshop has been organized for the guests of Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam on the sixth day of Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam at Dwarka in collaboration with SCOPE Institute of the Gujarat Government, Ahmedabad Tamil Sangam, and Bhakt Kavi Narsinh Mehta University, Junagadh.
"Breaking language barriers, fostering friendship!
Our delegates of #STSangamam and locals at Dwarka participated in an engaging Language Exchange Workshop where they learnt each other's language. Great step towards cultural assimilation and mutual respect. pic.twitter.com/AhqeKRmhor
— PIB in Tamil Nadu (@pibchennai) April 20, 2023
Bhakt Kavi Narsinh Mehta University in Junagadh took a special initiative to teach Gujarati to the participants of the Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam event. The university prepared a handbook and conducted workshops to teach basic Gujarati to the attendees. The handbook provides a brief history of the migrants from Gujarat who made Tamil Nadu their home. It is written in both Tamil and Gujarati and includes basic one-line sentences in Gujarati to help participants converse in the language their ancestors spoke 1,200 years ago.
Commenting on this, Chetan Trivedi, Vice Chancellor of Bhakt Kavi Narsinh Mehta University, said,” Language is a medium that brings one closer to their roots and instills a sense of belonging.”
Approximately 300 Tamil tourists learned some day-to-day words used in the Gujarati language. The Tamil sisters enthusiastically benefited from the Gujarati language competition. In the language workshop, words and phrases like ‘Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat,’ (hail Gujarat) ‘Tame Kem Chho’ (How are you), ‘Aavo Aavo’ (Welcome) were taught to Tamil visitors, and Tamil words were taught to Gujaratis. Gujaratis also participated in the competition by learning the translation of Gujarati words into Tamil. Information about eminent Gujarati poets Zaverchand Meghani and Kalapi was displayed in Tamil. While Gujaratis learnt about great Tamil scholars like Kanian Poongundranar. Saurashtrian Tamils enthusiastically participated in the workshop.
PM praises people of Badalpara for warm welcome of ST Sangamam guests
Heartening to see. Compliments to the people of Badalpara. https://t.co/X1amXVBckG
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2023
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has applauded the people of Badalpara Village, Somnath for welcoming Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam guests like family.
In reply to a tweet by the ST Sangamam, the Prime Minister tweeted :
“Heartening to see. Compliments to the people of Badalpara.”