At Visva Bharati – #Santiniketan – Celebrating the University’s Acharya and India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s decision to confer the Classical Language status on #Bengali, #Assamese, #Marathi, #Pali #Prakrit – a special statement was issued with wide support thanking Prime Minister for conferring the status of Classical Language on Bengali. The national symposium organised by Bhasha Bhavan, Visva Bharati and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation saw a wide array of well-known linguists, authors and academics spoke on various dimensions of these Indian languages and the importance of the Classical Language status & the wide possibilities that it opens up. Large number of students and faculty participated- Eminent writers and thinkers like Prof Diganta Biswa Sarma, Dr Anath Bandhu Chattopadhyay, Prof Swaswati Mutsuddy, Prof Jagat Ram Bhattacharya, Prof Manoranjan Pradhan et al elucidated on the various dimensions of these Bharatiya languages. Delivering the inaugural address I spoke on the significance of PM Modi’s decision and recalled the seminal contribution of iconic thought-leaders like Asutosh Mookerjee, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Rahul Sankrityayan, Prof Beni Madhav Barua, Prof Suniti Kumar Chattopadhyay. The special reference to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was most fulfilling and elevating. A bunch of trainee-andolanjeevis belonging the CPIM affiliated SFI tried to physically assault me and Anuttama before we could enter the auditorium, they then entered the auditorium with political flags and sloganeered throughout my address trying to drown my voice. I spoke for 40 minutes was heard in rapt attention and made all my points to their disappointment. They had a problem with Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s name and the us. Even while we discussed Gurudev, they kept trying to bark but to no avail. Nothing is sacred for these woke – urban naxals unfortunately! All in all a very successful event, well received and the first of its kind since the announcement. #Pali #ClassicalLanguage #Bengali #Assamese #Marathi, #Prakrit #RabindranathTagore.

SOURCE

https://x.com/anirbanganguly/status/1860899878093594759