Seminar on women begins
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 23 2012:
A two-day seminar on 'changing scenario of the place of women in society as reflected in eastern regional literatures' organised by Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti has begun from today at the State Guest House conference hall.
As chief guest of the inaugural function, convenor of Manipuri Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi N Khagendra Singh noted role of Manipuri women in diverse fields in moulding a better society.
Highlighting that manipuri women, apart from attending to homely chores, have been at the forefront of different movements on diverse issues ranging from socio-economic upliftment, protest against continuous imposition of the draconian AFSPA to even assisting the authorities in maintaining the law and order, he said female literary figures have also been contributing their mite to bring about a better change in the society through creative writings and visions.
Sahitya Akademi vice president Vishwanath Prasad Tiwary, in his address, asserted that womenfolk are indispensable part in the advancement of a society.
Acknowledging role of the manipuri women in various socio-political activities, he strongly advocated that every endeavour of the womenfolk need to be supported by every section of the society.
The Akademi's regional secretary Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay, who also spoke at the occasion informed that out of 24 languages recognised by the Indian Constitution eight of them are languages of the eastern region.
Emphasising that there is still enough room for development of the regional languages, Ramkumar said literary works of MK Binodini, Assam's Indira Goswami and Bengali writer Mahesweta are glaring examples that womenfolk of the region have far-sighted visions and are determined to bring positive changes in their respective society.
The opening day of the seminar presided by the convenor of Assamese Advisory Board Sahitya Akademi Lakshmi Nandan Bora also witnessed deliberations on the said theme by Mamoni Gogoi Borgohain (Assamese), Bithi Chattopadhyay (Bengali), Swarna Prabha Chainary (Bodo) and Arambam Ongbi Ibemhal (Manipuri).
The afternoon session chaired by Sahitya Akademi Bengali Advisory Board convenor Manabendra Bandhopadhyay had Lufta Hanum Selima Begam (Assamese), Minakshi Sen (Bengali), Anju Basumatary (Bodo) and Ch Sheelaramani (Manipuri) as the speakers.
The host Samiti's president P Nabachandra and its VP A Balkrishna Sharma also attended the occasion.