ROING, Jul 24: The RIWATCH Centre for Mother Languages (RCML), in collaboration with the Adi Baane Kebang (ABK), Adi Cultural and Literary Society (ACLS) and Government Secondary School (GSS), Parbuk, organised a one-day outreach programme on the promotion and revitalisation of the Adi language at GSS Parbuk in Lower Dibang Valley district on Thursday.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, GSS Parbuk Headmaster U Megu lauded RIWATCH's initiative to promote the Adi language among the younger generation.
Delivering the keynote address, RCML Centre Head Dr M S Awan highlighted the crucial role of native speakers in preserving their mother tongue, stating that language is central to maintaining cultural identity and safeguarding traditional knowledge, customs and heritage for future generations. He stressed that a language survives only when it continues to be actively spoken by its community.
As part of the programme, extempore speech competitions in the Adi language were organised for students and community elders on themes related to the promotion and revitalisation of language, culture and identity, with the objective of encouraging intergenerational transmission of cultural heritage.
In the students' category, Punna Passing of Class IX secured the first prize, while Ezekiel Libang of Class IX and Liya Langkam of Class X won the second and third prizes respectively. The winners were presented with certificates and cash awards.
A documentary on Adi Cultural Heritage, produced by RIWATCH's Documentation Centre, was also screened. The film showcased Adi folktales, folk songs, folk dances, rituals, festivals and material culture.
The initiative was appreciated by community leaders, including ACLS chairman Nini Pertin and ABK Lower Dibang Valley president Oling Modi, who encouraged students and community members to take pride in their language, preserve their traditions and actively contribute to safeguarding Adi cultural heritage.
More than 200 participants, including students, teachers, community leaders, senior citizens of Parbuk, members of the School Management Committees of GSS Parbuk and Kangkong, representatives of Dyoni-Polo Gangging (Parbuk), ABK and the ACLS attended the programme.