Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav, a vibrant celebration of India’s linguistic and cultural diversity, was hosted on 11th December 2024, at Nagaland University, Kohima Campus. The event, aligned with the vision of promoting and preserving India’s rich heritage of languages, was organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Education. The festival brought together students, faculty, and staff to honor India’s linguistic legacy. The celebration highlighted the importance of regional languages in fostering national unity and cultural identity.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof GT Thong, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, stated that institutes across India are celebrating Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav, a festival dedicated to honoring the linguistic diversity of Indian languages and culture. He added that, in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, the festival features a variety of activities, including storytelling, skits, and plays that bring India’s linguistic richness to life. These initiatives aim to preserve and promote India’s vibrant linguistic and cultural heritage. “This festival reminds us of the immense cultural wealth our country possesses. Each language is a reflection of our shared heritage, and it is our duty to preserve and promote this diversity for future generations,” he said.
Prof Jano, Dean of the School of Humanities and Education, emphasized the role of Indian languages in strengthening social harmony and the importance of multilingual education. She stressed that celebrating this occasion not only promotes perfection in one’s mother tongue but also fosters multilingualism by embracing India’s diverse linguistic landscape. She further added that such celebrations enhance the spirit of unity and diversity, allowing languages to coexist creatively and be nurtured in an enjoyable way.
Nagaland University, with its diverse campus community representing languages from Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman, Austro-Asiatic, and isolated language families like Japanese, provided a unique backdrop for this celebration.
The concluding remarks for the first session were given by Prof Pangersenla Walling, who asserted that Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav is more than just a celebration— it is a movement to honor linguistic plurality, empower native languages, and bridge cultural gaps. The chairperson, Dr Anuj Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Hindi, pointed out the importance of multilingualism and cultural diversity. He added that such events sensitize students to linguistic diversity and propagate unity and harmony among various languages.
The second session was hosted by Asebu Kekhriesenuo Kesiezie. The day-long festivities featured a variety of engaging activities, including Manipuri and Rajasthani dances, Chokri, Tenyidie folk songs, Ao, Lotha, Telugu, and Japanese poetry recitations, as well as songs in Dogri, Bangla, and Odiya, representing different linguistic communities of the country. The program culminated in a showcase of traditional attire and its significance from various linguistic communities.
The Utsav concluded with a vibrant cultural parade featuring students, faculty, and staff dressed in traditional attire, symbolizing unity in diversity. The celebration also showcased cuisines from all regions of the country. Thanks to the efforts of the participants, faculty members, and organizers, the Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav was a grand success, serving as a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and cultural pride.