New Delhi: Emphasising that language is key to connect people and democracies across the world, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla today inaugurated an online Indian and foreign language learning course for Members of Parliament, State / UT Legislatures, Officials and their families.
Along with 22 Indian languages included in 8th Schedule of the Constitution, Online learning classes will also be held for six foreign languages – French, German, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish.
Speaking on the event organised by Lok Sabha Secretariat at the Parliament House Complex, Birla said that language connects people and cultures.
He added that democracies should share their experiences best practices and learning the languages of other democracies will help in such sharing.
Knowledge of foreign languages helps to bring democracies closer to each other and strengthen parliamentary democracy around the world, he noted.
Besides, learning languages also boost tourism and trade, he further said adding India’s rich cultural diversity and plurality come alive in the many languages spoken in the country.
Emphasizing on capacity building of people’s representatives from panchayats to Parliament, he exhorted them to learn more and more languages; both Indian and foreign.
He also appealed to the people to learn at least one Indian language and one foreign language, in addition to their mother language.
