‘PMLF to highlight dignity, respect for all vernacular languages’
The fifth edition of the festival will promote the linguistic and cultural potential of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD:
The fifth edition of the Pakistan Mother Languages Festival (PMLF) —which celebrates vernacular languages and literature — will commence from Friday, February 21 in the federal capital. The three-day event coincides with the International Mother Languages Day and will feature more than 150 writers, intellectuals, artists and activists from across the country to represent some 20 local languages.
This was disclosed as the event was unveiled at a news conference on Sunday.
The festival will be held from Friday, February 21 to Sunday, February 23 at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad. It is being held by the Indus Cultural Forum (ICF) in collaboration with the PNCA and other institutions. Other partners and sponsors of the event include Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI), Friedrich Naumann Foundation Pakistan (FNF), Alternative Research Initiative (ARI), Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC), Sindh government’s Culture Department, ECO Science Foundation, Pakistan Science Foundation, Society for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR) and other organizations.
Briefing about this year’s attractions, ICF Chairperson Niaz Nadeem said that there will be around 20 sessions in the festival which will comprise discussions, book launches, poetry recitations, musical performances and theatrical performances. Other attractions include painting and antiquities exhibitions, children’s science fun activities and bookstalls.
“We are striving for equal dignity and respect for all Pakistani languages as they represent the rich heritage and folk wisdom of millions of Pakistanis,” Nadeem said, adding that special attention has been given to the constitutional equality of all languages and sessions have been designed in this regard.
PNCA Director General Dr Fouzia Saeed said that the linguistic and cultural potential of Pakistan is not very well known, hence as a country, we are unable to celebrate the diversity of our country when in fact, it can be out biggest strength.
“This festival provides a platform for celebrating all the 70 languages of Pakistan and encourages language communities to take action for saving these languages from extinction,” she said. Dr Saeed has been involved in almost all the past iterations of the festival in the federal capital, supporting it during her time as the executive director of Lok Virsa.
Foundation Open Society Pakistan (FOSI) Representative Nargis Sultana said: “respect for linguistic rights is critical for empowering communities and reducing discrimination”.
She added that the festival aims to promote linguistic and cultural diversity by fostering critical thinking and learning through the effective use of the creative expression in mother languages.
Sultana added that the festival has been an important event to highlight the potential of literature and arts in these languages which are usually marginalised. The festival also provides a platform to intellectuals, writers and thinkers representing different languages to come together and present their work on various genres of art, literature, culture and education in mother languages of Pakistan.
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for freedom-Pakistan’s Programme and Administration Head Muhammad Anwar said his institution celebrates the linguistic and cultural diversity of Pakistan. In this regard, he shared that the FNF works with partners to bring out the real potential of Pakistani languages so that people of Pakistan are aware of their rich heritage and culture.
Society for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR) Chief Executive Mazhar Arif said that the diversity of languages, cultures and peoples is real in Pakistan. Recognising and appreciating this diversity guarantees the strength and prosperity of the country.
ICF General Secretary Zubeida Birwani said that this festival strengthens the national harmony and cultural plurality. She also talked about children activities during the festival.
Later, a detailed agenda of the festival was unveiled.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2020.
The fifth edition of the Pakistan Mother Languages Festival (PMLF) —which celebrates vernacular languages and literature — will commence from Friday, February 21 in the federal capital. The three-day event coincides with the International Mother Languages Day and will feature more than 150 writers, intellectuals, artists and activists from across the country to represent some 20 local languages.
This was disclosed as the event was unveiled at a news conference on Sunday.
The festival will be held from Friday, February 21 to Sunday, February 23 at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad. It is being held by the Indus Cultural Forum (ICF) in collaboration with the PNCA and other institutions. Other partners and sponsors of the event include Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI), Friedrich Naumann Foundation Pakistan (FNF), Alternative Research Initiative (ARI), Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC), Sindh government’s Culture Department, ECO Science Foundation, Pakistan Science Foundation, Society for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR) and other organizations.
Briefing about this year’s attractions, ICF Chairperson Niaz Nadeem said that there will be around 20 sessions in the festival which will comprise discussions, book launches, poetry recitations, musical performances and theatrical performances. Other attractions include painting and antiquities exhibitions, children’s science fun activities and bookstalls.
“We are striving for equal dignity and respect for all Pakistani languages as they represent the rich heritage and folk wisdom of millions of Pakistanis,” Nadeem said, adding that special attention has been given to the constitutional equality of all languages and sessions have been designed in this regard.
PNCA Director General Dr Fouzia Saeed said that the linguistic and cultural potential of Pakistan is not very well known, hence as a country, we are unable to celebrate the diversity of our country when in fact, it can be out biggest strength.
“This festival provides a platform for celebrating all the 70 languages of Pakistan and encourages language communities to take action for saving these languages from extinction,” she said. Dr Saeed has been involved in almost all the past iterations of the festival in the federal capital, supporting it during her time as the executive director of Lok Virsa.
Foundation Open Society Pakistan (FOSI) Representative Nargis Sultana said: “respect for linguistic rights is critical for empowering communities and reducing discrimination”.
She added that the festival aims to promote linguistic and cultural diversity by fostering critical thinking and learning through the effective use of the creative expression in mother languages.
Sultana added that the festival has been an important event to highlight the potential of literature and arts in these languages which are usually marginalised. The festival also provides a platform to intellectuals, writers and thinkers representing different languages to come together and present their work on various genres of art, literature, culture and education in mother languages of Pakistan.
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for freedom-Pakistan’s Programme and Administration Head Muhammad Anwar said his institution celebrates the linguistic and cultural diversity of Pakistan. In this regard, he shared that the FNF works with partners to bring out the real potential of Pakistani languages so that people of Pakistan are aware of their rich heritage and culture.
Society for Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR) Chief Executive Mazhar Arif said that the diversity of languages, cultures and peoples is real in Pakistan. Recognising and appreciating this diversity guarantees the strength and prosperity of the country.
ICF General Secretary Zubeida Birwani said that this festival strengthens the national harmony and cultural plurality. She also talked about children activities during the festival.
Later, a detailed agenda of the festival was unveiled.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2020.