The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, on Thursday, November 20, inaugurated a two-day national symposium on ‘Language, Culture and Knowledge Systems’ as part of the observance of ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’, held annually on November 15 to honour the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Shailendra Mohan, director, CIIL, who presided over the event, said that CIIL has developed a dictionary and teaching-learning materials for the Soliga community, including linguistic and grammatical resources, and added that the institute has plans to undertake visual documentation of the Soliga community’s knowledge to ensure long-term preservation and accessibility.
Emphasising foundational literacy and numeracy, he said that CIIL, in collaboration with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), has developed 127 primers and is currently working on other Northeastern languages, while reaffirming CIIL’s commitment to advancing language education in alignment with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Prof. Mohan reiterated that all Indian languages irrespective of classifications constitute the nation’s cultural and linguistic heritage and urged young researchers to actively contribute to enriching India’s linguistic and knowledge systems besides supporting the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, especially mother tongue-based education.
In his welcome address, P.R. Dharmesh Fernandez, Professor and Deputy Director, CIIL, underscored the Union government’s commitment to recognising the invaluable contributions of tribal communities, who continue to safeguard some of the nation’s most ancient languages, cultural practices, and knowledge systems.
Prof. Fernandez highlighted Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s enduring message of ‘Jal, Jangal, Zameen’ and emphasised that traditional ecological knowledge deeply rooted in tribal languages offers vital lessons for sustainable development.
Citing early references to natural disasters in Sangam literature and the survival of Andaman tribal communities during the 2004 tsunami, he illustrated how indigenous environmental wisdom has long guided community resilience.
Madegowda C., project manager, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), B.R. Hills, Chamarajanagara district, emphasised Birsa Munda’s enduring legacy as a defender of Adivasi rights and a source of inspiration for tribal communities across India. Highlighting the deep historical connection of Adivasis with forest landscapes, he noted that traditional communities have served as custodians of forests for centuries.
Dr. Madegowda also expressed concerns about the influence of Tiger Reserves, National Parks, mining activities, and infrastructure projects on the livelihoods and cultural practices of tribal groups. He observed that although these communities have lived in close coexistence with wildlife for generations, they continue to experience challenges related to relocation and land access.
Emphasising the gradual decline of oral traditions, he called for systematic linguistic documentation of lesser-known Adivasi languages in Karnataka to ensure that valuable cultural knowledge is preserved for future generations.
Dr. Madegowda urged the CIIL to undertake comprehensive field surveys, community-based linguistic mapping, and action-oriented research that directly benefits tribal learners.
He stressed the need for CIIL to collaborate with local communities to develop early-grade teaching and learning materials, primers, and digital resources tailored to the sociocultural contexts of tribal children.
Sujoy Sarkar, Lecturer and Junior Research Officer (L-JRO), CIIL, and coordinator of the symposium, was present.
The two-day national symposium on ‘Language, Culture and Knowledge Systems’ will feature six academic sessions, during which 19 research papers will be presented by scholars from various universities, research institutions, and NGOs across the country.
Published – November 20, 2025 06:35 pm IST
