After Vadodara debut,language warriors vow to meet again next year

As preparatory to the 2013 event,which will be named Language Now Carnivalan,the expert group formed an international presidium of languages with its chapters in various countries. The presidium held a press meet in Vadodara where it made the announcement fo the next event.

While BRPC,which is a Vadodara-based organisation working for marginalised communities and their languages,will work as the host for Bhasha Now, its founder Prof Devy will be its international secretary general.

“Taking into account the tremendous interest generated by Bhasha Vasudha event in Vadodara and also looking at the serious threat of diminishing of world languages stock,the scholars (have) decided to convene Bhasha Now event in India in February 2013,” said Prof Devy.

“The event will focus on situation of languages as they are,providing a snapshot of global language stock. The event will involve representatives of 7,000 languages from across the world. UNESCO and various state governments,academic and research bodies will also be engaged in the event,” Prof Devy added.

Mainly,the participants will be students and young people. The carnival-like event will be a celebration,the BRPC founder added.

The event will be organized in India,simultaneously at various locations,with the opening meeting in Delhi. The concluding event will be held at Tejgadh in Pavi Jetpur taluka of Vadodara,where BRPC runs its Adivasi Academy.

Prof Devy said the list of representatives,participants and organisations to be associated with the event will be fully finalised by March this year. National cultural organisations within India such as Sahitya Akademi,Indian Council for Social Science Research and Central Institute for Indian Languages will associate themselves with the Bhasha Now Carnival.