Breaking language barriers

As the world remains embroiled in various conflicts over boundaries, identities and ideas, events like IFLC, hope to paint a better picture for the future.

 Bringing young change makers from all over the country, the 14th International Festival of Language and Culture, marked a successful debut in India on Saturday at the national Capital’s Talkatora stadium where, school students from 17 countries came together to celebrate the linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversity of the world.

Inaugurated by Dr Najma Heptullah, Minister of Minority affairs, this event saw Acharya Balkrishna, Swami Agnivesh among other dignitaries. Foreign delegations from 17 countries arrived, reflecting the theme- “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- The world is one family to ascertain global peace and cultural harmony.” The eclectic evening, witnessed 43 international and 350 city students from Springdale’s School, The Frank Antony Public School, Ahlcon International School, Mata Gujri School, Tagore International School and Bluebells International School participate. 

The most memorable performance was by the choir ‘Colors of the world’ by students of India, Georgia and Kyrgystan.

Sukul Khanna, a student of class 11th Springdales School, Pusa road, said, “I am really thankful to my school for giving me this opportunity, they have been really supportive. I will be leaving for Norway on Monday to represent India at an international level.”  

Another student from the same school, Aditi who is also a part of the delegation representing India, said, “Being an army kid and with constant transfers, it was really difficult for me to settle long enough and get involved with any extracurricular activities. It was my school that made IFLC possible for me. IFLC has been a wonderful experience.” Of the many international students coming to India for the first time, Kiarah, a 17 year-old girl from USA, expressed her excitement, “I am in love with India, the culture, the diversity and the variety of food here. Tomorrow I’ll visit the Taj Mahal which is a dream come true for me. 

The experience with IFLC has been beautiful as I have travelled 14 countries so far.” The mission statement of IFLC, a joint collaboration between Educational Endowment Trust, Ministry of Culture, Government of India and UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan, says, “It is our mission to rise on the wings of art and music and promote peace, love, and cultural encounters throughout the world’. 

IFLC aims to celebrate linguistic diversity and promote universal peace and is a global effort to facilitate a cordial engagement between the young change makers from different parts of the world.