Scholars Call For Promoting Pakistani Languages To Achieve National Glory, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU)

Scholars and academicians on Friday underlined the need of recognizing and celebrating the importance of Pakistani languages to keep high the national identity, while moving towards the road of progress and prosperity.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Mar, 2018 ) :Scholars and academicians on Friday underlined the need of recognizing and celebrating the importance of Pakistani languages to keep high the national identity, while moving towards the road of progress and prosperity.

Addressing the inaugural session of two-day international conference held here at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), they said that the national glory and unity might be well achieved through promoting languages and their literature.

The inaugural session was presided over by the Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui, while renowned scholar Prof Dr Fateha Muhammad Malik was the chief guest. The speakers who delivered key-note address on the occasion included Chairman Sindh Language Authority Dr Abdul Ghafoor Mahmood, Director General urdu Science board, Lahore Dr Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Pakistani scholar from Maryland, USA Bina Goindi, Sindhi scholar Hafeez Khan and a Pushto scholar Saleem Raj Khan.

The event, arranged by the University's Department of Pakistani Languages was well-attended by scholars, researchers and academicians from home and abroad. It was part of the AIOU's regular activities to promote research-based academic work on various issues of national importance.

The speakers, while deliberating upon the topic of 'Pakistani language and colonial literature' noted that the British imperialist forces had been perpetuating their hegemony in the sub-continent by using the tool of language and literature.

Prof Fateha Muhammad Malik was of the view that regional languages were successfully survived during the colonial rule while putting strong resistance against imperialist forces.

He spoke high about the role of Sufi poets in upholding the Islamic traditions and moral values.

Their anti-colonial poetry proved most effective in getting ride of foreign domination. He noted that the Sufi poets and scholars had been on forefront for establishing an independent homeland in the sub-continent.

Prof Dr Shahid Siddiqui asserted that languages and literature should be used as a tool to promote national cohesion as well as reformation of society. These two, not only served as a source of communication, but had also been powerful instrument in construction of national identity and social realities.

About the objectives of the conference, the Vice Chancellor said it was an attempt on their part to support the national endeavor promoting peace and harmony among the various ethic and linguistic groups.

He pointed out that the AIOU, with 1.3 million students and wide-infrastructure network had emerged as a symbol of national integrity. Dr Shahid Siddiqui further said the University through educational pursuits fulfilled its national responsibility to influence the people's' mind to adopt positive and constructive approach in the nation-building task.

Dean Social Sciences Dr. Samina Awan and Chairman Department of Pakistani Language Dr. Abdullah Jan Abid also spoke on the occasion, highlighting the objectives of the conference. During working sessions, about 120 research papers will be presented on various aspects of the Pakistani languages and the event's topic.

The AIOU is only educational institution in the country that is currently teaching six regional languages from Matric to PhD level.