Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

International Mother Language Day
February 21st is being observed as International Mother Language Day since 2000 by UNESCO to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

International Mother Language Day originated as the international recognition of Language Movement Day, which has been commemorated in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) since 1952, when a number of Dhaka university students were killed by the Pakistani police and army in Dhaka during the Bengali Language Movement.

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

As globalization increases, languages of people of lesser number or power die. Several languages are under severe strain to survive.

The 21st Century reminds us that, despite this inequality of power between our mother tongues and the languages of power, we must not give up hope. We must be conscious of the significance of our mother tongues, which give us identity; which are repositories of culture and which, in the final analysis, make us what we are.

Technology can help to preserve and sustain a dyeing language, as wikipaedia experiemnts worldwide has proved.

The theme of the 2016 International Mother Language Day is “Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes.”

This underlines the importance of mother languages for quality education and linguistic diversity.

We must recognise and nurture this power, in order to leave no one behind, to craft a more just and sustainable future for all.

On the occasion of the 17th International Mother Language Day, let's give utmost priority to the mother tongue and mother language. But we have to be cautious about chest thumping and jingoism, which at the long run proves counterproductive.

Why can't we preserve our heritage?

Outlook. 6 Feb 2016 issue has a story on Calcutta Film Society (CFS). Founded by Satyajit Ray, Chidanada Dasgupta and others on Oct 5, 1947 it is the oldest film club of the country. Presently it "lies in serious state of disrepair".

The same story is repeated for dozens of old institutions all over the country. Go to any historical monument you will invariably find it in a shambles, with ugly graffiti and waste heaps strewn around. Go to any old institution- you will find it crumbling. The uncared look will sadden you.

Why are we as a nation so callus towards our heritage? The negligence in most of the places is almost criminal. Ironically, we become very touchy when somebody else points this out. Then we swear by our rich heritage. Politicians of all colour milk it dry. But when it comes to doing something concrete, as little as keeping the place clean and litter free we fail to do that.

Why can't we preserve our heritage? Why are we so callus? Why don’t we have respect for history? One of the greatest paradoxes concerning us is: we love our myths but not history.

Tail piece: Lie

A 60 year old billionaire came to the bar with his hot and beautiful 25 year old wife.

Friend: How did she marry you?

Man: I lied about my age.

Friend: You said 45?

Man: No. I said 85…

20.2.2016

Film and Photography Festival

PRISM

Dept. of Communication Studies of Jagannath International Management School, Vasant Kunj, in collaboration with Iran Cultural House is organizing its 12^th Film & Photography festival ‘Prism’ on 11^th March’16. During the festival, classic and prize winning films from Iran will be screened in separate Auditorium’s simultaneously.

By way of an update on the organizers of the Media Festival, I would like to inform you that the Dept. of Communication Studies of Jagannath International Management School was established in 2003 to run a Bachelor of Journalism (Mass Communication) degree program of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. This Festival is a part of the series of activities organized by the Dept. every year to equip students with hands on experience of the prevailing trends & practices in Media and entertainment industry. 

For the competition the films can be submitted in the following categories:

·  Category 1- (Ads & PSA up to 1 mins),

·  Category 2- short films (3 -10 mins each).

·  Category 3- Long films (10 mins-30 mins each).

·  Genres - PSA, documentaries, fiction.

 Entries guidelines

·  Films and documentaries should not exceed the time limit of 30 minutes.

·  Ad films should not exceed the time limit of 1 minute.

·  Format: quick time movie i.e. (.mov) or (.avi)

·  Audio channel: stereo

·  Material for viewing must be sent on a good quality DVD.

For photography competition

Themes for the photography Competition are:

·         Portrait

·         Landscape

·         Colours of life

·         Unseen reality

·         Monuments

·         Silhouettes

 Entries guidelines.

·  The photographs should clearly define the theme.

·  The photo story should follow the rule of “one photo one caption.”

·  The caption should not be more than 15 words per photograph.

·  Editing of the photographs is not allowed. There should be no watermark, copyright marks or identifying marks on the photographs.

·  Shutter speed, aperture and ISO should be mentioned at the back of the photograph along with participant’s name, institute name and contact numbers.

·  The photographer must possess the raw file/ original format of the picture and should be able to present it, if required.

·  A4 is the size for submission of the photograph, to be submitted as hard copy. 

·  If reach ability is an issue, one can also courier their hard copies to :

Jagannath International Management School,
OCF, Pocket 9,
Sector-B, Vasant Kunj,
New Delhi, Delhi 110070

Online forms, Including rules and regulations: http://goo.gl/forms/ydT5AZq4VI

The last date for receiving entries is 1st March, 2016

Contact:

Dr. Ritu S. Sood
Associate Professor
Jagannath International Management School
Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070.
(Affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi)
Office Phone: 011-40619300

Prism Facebook page: www.facebook.com/prismmediafest2015

Visit us at: www.jimsd.org
Follow us on  Facebook www.facebook.com/jimsd.org
Twitter : https://twitter.com/JIMSVK/
Linkedin : www.linkedin.com/pub/jims-vasant-kunj/80/522/bb4"

AMIC Conference in September 2016

AMIC Conference in September 2016

(Following from AMIC Secretary-General Ramon R. Tuazon)

Rethinking Communication in a Resurgent Asia

15-17 September 2016, Manila Philippines

CALL FOR PAPERS

According to an ancient Chinese proverb, To forget one’s ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without root.

An old Philippine proverb says, Sino man ang hindi marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinang-galingan, ay hindi makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan. (He who does not think back on his past, will not arrive at his destination.)

We invoke this ancient Asian wisdom to warn, as we lunge headlong into today’s fast-changing world, that non-Asian communication theories, sophisticated gadgets and apps are not the panacea to Asia’s and the world’s problems. The solutions are in us.

We in AMIC and in Asia need to rediscover our roots, somehow buried under our feet as we run mindlessly forward. We have imbibed non-Asian ways, and adopted foreign communication theories, methodologies and practices as we studied abroad, and brought them back to Asia to teach to our young students who would one day become our disciples.

We preach that communication and culture are inextricably linked. But have we studied or developed Asian theories of communication based on Asian culture? Very little it seems and definitely not enough. In this coming 2016 AMIC annual conference, we pause and look back to where we came from.

We need to rediscover our “Asianess” amidst a resurging Asia. The Asian Development Bank has reported that if Asia continues its current growth trajectory, by 2050 it will regain the dominant economic position it held some 300 years ago, before the industrial revolution. In this scenario Asia’s gross domestic product (GDP) will reach $174 trillion (or half of the global GDP) from $17 trillion in 2010.

A resurging Asia must also be seen in terms of new challenges characterized by inequalities, conflicts, climate change, unsustainable practices, and corruption. Beyond the tools of mass communication, are there distinct Asian communication strategies which can effectively address these challenges that threaten the resurgence of Asia?

Let us rediscover our Asian past so that we can confidently move into our future.

CONFERENCE CLUSTERS AND STREAMS

Cluster on Philosophies, Theories, and Paradigms
•       How Asian Philosophies and Religion Influence Communication Paradigms
•       Asian (Indigenous) Communication Theories, Paradigms, and Models
•       Media History and Asian Perspectives: Remembering the Past for the Future
•       Cultural Traditions and Communication Theory
•       Asian Research Framework and Methodologies

Cluster on Communication and Culture
•       Protecting and Preserving Our Cultural Heritage (Amidst Natural and Man-made Disasters)
•       Intercultural Dialogue for Tolerance, Harmony, and Peace
•       Addressing Hate Speech, Radicalism, and Extremism in Asian Media
Cluster on Communication Education

•       Asian Higher Education Integration
•       Accreditation Standards for Asia-Pacific Communication Schools

Cluster on Communication Media
•       Revival (or Rediscovery) of Asian Traditional (Folk) Media
•       Asian Films, Directors, and Performers in the Global Cinema
•       Portrayal of Asia and its Societies and Citizens in Film and TV
Cluster on Communication Strategies and Approaches

•       Asian Conflict Resolution Styles and Communication
•       Good Governance and Communication (including Poverty Alleviation, Fighting Corruption)
•       Risk, Disaster, and Humanitarian Communication
•       Health Communication (including Behavior and Social Change)

Cluster on Inclusive Knowledge Societies
•       Access to Knowledge and Information by Persons with Disabilities
•       Access to Knowledge and Information by Indigenous People
•       Right to Information of Internally Displaced Persons
•       Access Beyond Genders (and Gender Preference)

Cluster on Global Communication
•       Communication and the Asian Diaspora (Migration)
•       Asia-Africa Dialogue on Commonalities and Divergences in Communication
•       Career Opportunities for the Global Communication Professional

Cluster on Asian Business Communication
•       Branding Asia/Branding in Asia
•       Trade and Investment Communication
•       Cross-cultural Business Communication in an Asian Setting

SCHEDULE OF SUBMISSIONS

Papers will be selected on a competitive basis and all submissions will be screened by an expert panel.
Abstracts due:                         30 March 2016
Notification of acceptance         June 2016
Full papers due:                        30 July 2016
Abstracts and papers should be submitted via e-mail (conference@amic.asia).
Please do not send abstracts/papers to the personal e-mail addresses of conference organizers.

FORMAT FOR ABSTRACTS
Indicate your proposed Conference Cluster (and specific stream) in the subject line of your e-mail.

E-mail should include the following:
•       paper title
•       author name, position, institution
•       short biography of author (100 words)
•       paper abstract (500 words)

FORMAT FOR PAPERS

If your abstract is approved for presentation, you will be required to submit the full paper prior to the conference. The full paper should adhere to the following requirements:
•       should be written in English.
•       be of 5,000-8,000 words in length.
•       have citation in APA style.
•       should be Microsoft Word or RTF document. Font should be Times New Roman, 12 pts. Please use plain text and not formatting.

For more information, please contact AMIC Secretary-General Ramon R. Tuazon (r.tuazon@amic.asia or rrtuazon722@yahoo.com)

Note to all authors: By submitting your paper, you agree to the following terms:
a.      that upon selection of your paper, you will register for the conference and present the paper. All co-authors attending and/or presenting at the conference must register too.
b.      that your paper will be included in a compilation of conference papers to be uploaded and publicized in the AMIC website

CRITERIA FOR REVIEW

Abstracts
Criteria to be used to evaluate abstracts include the following:
•       Relevance of the topic to the conference theme
•       Well-defined topics /issue(s) to be examined and discussed
•       Originality and innovativeness of topic
•       Adherence to solid research design and methodology (for research-based papers)
•       Limitations identified (for research-based papers)
•       Good language and writing quality and logical organization of paper
•       Potential contributions to the advancement of communication theory, research and practice

Full Papers
Criteria to be used to evaluate full papers include the following:
•       Extensive and appropriate literature review
•       Good writing quality, e.g., style is clear and engaging
•       Logical organization of paper
•       In-depth and evidence-based analysis and conclusions
•       Concrete recommendations for research, policy, and action projects
•       Publication-ready

New Book

Assamese translation of my novel Yamraj Number 5003 is being released on Feb 22 at Press club. Guwahati at 5 pm. sri Hitesh Deka, VC KK Handique Open University will launch the book.
 It was originally written in Odia. Assamese translation was done by my student Mrinal Kumar Nath. This book has been published by Bina Library, Guwahati.

Article

Samaja Saptahika 18 Feb 2016

Column | Jagate Thiba Jetedina

Samaj Saptahika, 20-26 Feb. 2016 

Seminar on Folk Media

Speakers: 
Manmath Satpathy, Former Secy, State Lalit Kala Academy
Sri Abhaya Kumar Padhi, Former DDG, Prasar Bharti 
Dr. Gouranga Dash, Folk Media Researcher
Sri Bighneswar Sahu, Executive Editor, Samadrusti
Introduction:
Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee

History of Journalism in Odisha | Politics and Journalism

Dhwani Pratidhwani

Column | Bindu Bisarga

Pratibimba, 31Jan-4 Feb 2016

Relection

What has Globalization done to Indian culture?

Mrinal Chatterjee

Globalisation imposes a kind of homogeneity to increase scale. Increase in scale, in most of the cases, lower the production and logistics cost, which makes the produce economically more viable. And if the produce is found to be attractive (or made to be found to be attractive) by the potential buyers there is profit. More sales thus translate into more profit.  

However, homogenisation not only impacts industrial production, it also impacts aspects seemingly removed from industrial production: food, dress, music, plastic arts. Together it impact the way a Nation engage with the core issues like what it should be like or what its core values should be like.

A question that has often been asked is: what has globalization done to Indian culture? Has it been impacted?

Here is what Steve McCurry, one of the great contemporary photographers who has been visiting India for the last three and half decades says as answer to this question in an interview with Rinku Ghosh:[1]

Indian culture has evolved over time and is one of the greatest cultures on the planet. One of the great civilisations ever created. Whether it is the music, the way people tie their turbans or dress. I see the biggest change in dress codes, something that lent you identity and defined it over time is now assembly line Western wear at cheaper rates. Maybe they are more efficient and work-friendly. Maybe they are aspirational for a generation that wants to be hip. The Indianness then starts breaking down. You can’t stop it but in a way it is kind of sad that what was unique to your culture is fading away. And rather easily without an attempt at incorporating some strands of originality. Then you have the food, music and architecture, all of which have lost their thread to a certain sameness. Everybody now has a cell phone, a laptop or a TV. I loved how movie hoardings were hand-painted but now are pushed to the corners.

Evolution is a necessity. Life moulting into something else, I find that fascinating. So photographs are a great way of retaining memory of how we were. I compare and contrast with my past work many a time. I even revisit my spots to understand change. I remember witnessing Holi in Mathura in the early 90s. It was incredible, the explosion of colours, though still touristy. Yet I went around without being noticed in the gush. When I went back there last year, I found many young aspiring Indian or foreign photographers. Not that the moment wasn’t authentic but the presence of cameras had changed the crowd behaviour. The boys were not just shooting down colours in merry abandon, but their actions were more self-conscious. There was an unspoken code of performing to the shutterbugs. There was so much chaos, people were dancing and it was still unbelievable. But I can’t forget how the glut of images everywhere had changed the perception of subjects about the camera itself.

---

[1]http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sunday-pioneer/special/peeled-through-the-lens.html

National Conference

One-Day National Conference on 

25 Years of INDIA’s Tryst with Economic Reforms: Bright Sparks, Dark Spots and Glimmer of Hopes!"  

Organised by : Sankara Institute of management Sciences, (SIMS)

Saravanampatty, Coimbatore - 641035, Tamilnadu

Date: 4th March 2016.

The conference aims to bring together the research endeavours of academicians, research scholars, policy-makers, industry professionals and students on understanding the Economic Reforms and its impact on the Indian Economy. Original research papers/articles covering theme and sub themes are invited for presentation, deliberation and publication in the conference.

Last date for submission of Abstract is 15/02/16 and full paper is 25/02/16

(e-mail:simsconference@sankara.ac.in)

History of Journalism in Odisha | Stalwarts

Dhwani Pratidhwani

My Stories in Odia

I wrote these stories after I met with a road accident. these stories have been translated in Hindi by Itishree Singh Rathore and has been posted in my blog.

Column | Window Seat

Nazrul Geeti in Odia

Kazi Nazrul Islam (25 May 1899 – 29 August 1976) was a Bengali poet, writer, musician, and revolutionary, and is the national poet of Bangladesh. He wrote and composed music for his nearly 4,000 songs, collectively known as Nazrul Geeti, which are widely popular today. He created an avant-garde genre of Modern Bengali Songs. He also wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms such as Bengali Ghazals. His writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution and have been widely translated into many languages.

Recently Symphony digital Audio has launched a Nazrul Geeti album in Odia. This is for the first time that a Nazrul Geeti album has been released in Odia.

It has twelve songs sung by Namrata Mohanty, a well known singer in Odisha. She is a B-High grade singer of AIR, Cuttack since 1983. She has learnt Hindustani classical vocal from eminent musicians like A. Maheswar Rao, Shantanu Das and Dhananjay Satapathy. This is her fifth solo album. Her earlier solo releases include three albums of Odia modern songs, Janhare Tolide Ghara (2009), Dipa Jale Dipa Libhe (2010), and Chhuti (2014), and an album of Hindi traditional bhajans named Ninad (2014).

These songs have been translated by veteran lyricist-cum-music director, Swarup Naik.

Listen to the album. I am sure you will like it.

Save Wetlands 

Wetlands are essential for humans to live and prosper. They provide freshwater and ensure our food supply. They help sustain the wide variety of life on our planet, protect our coastlines, provide natural sponges against river flooding, and store carbon dioxide to regulate climate change.

But unfortunately we are destroying our wetlands in the name of development. And we are reaping the consequences. Look at Bhubaneswar. With its hilly terrain with natural drainage system, there should not be any water logging. But because of blocking of the natural drainage system and filling of wetlands- the city is experiencing heavy water logging in the rainy season and water crisis, with receding ground water level in the summer. This has happened and is happening in several cities big and small across India. The recent unprecedented flood in Chennai and almost regular flooding of Mumbai could be partially blamed on this.

We need to save our wetlands before it is too late. With this objective 2 Feb is observed as World  Wetlands Day. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat provides outreach materials to help raise public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands.

This year 2016 the theme for World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods. Let us understand the vital role of wetlands for the future of humanity and specifically their relevance towards achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals.

Book Fair

More and more book fairs are being organised in different parts of Odisha. Bhuaneswar has more than five book fairs a year now. Almost all towns are now having book fairs. As per a conservative estimate over 70 book fairs are now organised across the state.

But when it comes to the sales of books, things are not very encouraging. In the fairs the bestselling book categories are: religious books, children’s books and how to books. So much so that some book fairs have been organised only with this category of books. Books related to literature and other subjects gradually are losing ground so far sales is concerned.

Many of the book fairs are now turning to kind of mela with umpteen numbers of food stalls and stalls selling stationeries and knickknacks including feng sui articles. The literary and intellectual discussions generally organised at the book fairs are losing attraction. The organisers collectively need to think something out of the box to revive the attraction of the Book Fair.

Tailpiece: 40 years of marriage:

 A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.  Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table.

 She said, 'For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.

 The wife answered, 'Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband.

 The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.

 The husband thought for a moment: 'Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me.

 The wife, and the fairy, was deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish. So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof...the husband became 92 years old

Moral: Men who are ungrateful should remember fairies are female.

(Courtesy: An anonymous Email forward)

**

Mrinal Chatterjee, a journalist-turned media academician lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He can be contacted at mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

-http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowOriyaColumn.asp?id=64589#sthash.N4rRFNQJ.dpuf
2.2.2016