Viewpoint – International Mother Language Day

If you talk to [someone] in a language [he or she] understands, that goes to [the person’s] head. If you talk to [somebody] in [his or her] language, that goes to [the] heart.

– Nelson Mandela

It was 9 o’clock in the morning on 21^st February, 1952 when student groups gathered to protest againts the imposition of section 144 at the University of Dhaka during the ongoing Bengali Language Movement in East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh). Police surrounded the area as university vice chancellor and other officials gathered and attempted to break the police line. With a section of students from Dhaka Medical College rallied towards the police, they started firing tear gas when the vice chancellor asked the students to leave. Despite that, students were arrested by the police for violating section 144 as they attempted to leave.

Protesting the arrest of students, enraged students of the University of Dhaka met around the East Bengal Legislative Assembly and blocked the legislators’ way, asking them to present their insistence at the assembly. Police opened fire and killed a dozen students, including Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abul Barkat and Abdul Jabbar, when a group of students sought to storm into the building.

A Shaheed Minar was constructed on February 22^nd for the martyrs in 1952 which was demolished by Pakistani Police. It was again constructed during 1963 which stood till it was again demolished by Pakistani Army in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. In 1972, the minar was again reconstructed to give tribute to those who laid down their lives for their mother language.

In the year 1999, the UNESCO announced 21^st February to be observed as International Mother Language Day to promote peace and multilingualism. It was formally recognised by the United Nations General Assembly and the year 2008 was established as the International Year of Languages.

The theme of this year “Quality Education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes” is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education. The theme emphasizes on importance of mother languages during early years of schooling. The appropriate use of languages can facilitate access to quality education and learning by putting emphasis on understanding and creativity among children, rather than memorisation.

Fiinovation believes that languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing culture and heritage of any country. With India being a country of several languages, dissemination of information in different mother languages will not only promote diversity and multilingual education, but also develop better understanding among people about linguistic and cultural traditions of the country. Being the world’s largest democracy this is the only way to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

As the German poet Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe says, “Those who know nothing of foreign languages, knows nothing of their own.”

Let’s learn more languages, lets interact more with people, let’s solve the problems of this great nation.

By – Rahul Choudhury

Media & Communications, Fiinovation

Mandela Day: Time to Serve

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” – Nelson Mandela

It was a unanimous decision of the United Nations General Assembly to observe 18^th July as Nelson Mandela International Day. The day is observed to honour the great man on his birthday and carry on the legacy of his values of volunteering and community service. The day was inspired by the call Nelson Mandela made by placing the responsibility of social service in the hands of the people. This day is a celebration of the work done by Mandela and is a global call for action that reiterates his belief that every individual has the power to transform the world. Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd. believes that every individual has the responsibility and the ability to change the world for better. It is therefore, for the young generation to understand the responsibility and act to make positive change. His fight for freedom, his ability to lead a nation, his values and thoughts, his work for peace and development and his love for sport is a source of immense inspiration for the younger generation.

Mandela lived with three basic principles in life that encapsulated themselves through freedom of self, freedom of others and service for all.

The day encourages to celebrate his work and take action anywhere in the world. People are urged on this day to find inspiration for their contribution in the legacy of Nelson Mandela and to serve their fellow humans every day. Actions can be big or small and should focus on the realization or restoration of dignity and empowerment of people through their contributions. Some of the areas that the youth can contribute are food security, shelter and infrastructure, education and literacy, service and volunteerism etc.

Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd. understands it is a great way to pay respect to the former South African President who believed in the ability of individuals playing a key role in fighting poverty and promotion of equality. 2014 is a special year as it marks 20 years of South Africa’s democratic freedom.

Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years. We’re asking you to start with 67 minutes.

Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd

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International Day of Sports for Development and Peace – Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd.

“Sport has the power to unite people in a way little else can. Sport can create hope where there was once only despair. It breaks down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of discrimination. Sport speaks to people in a language they can understand.”

                                                                                                                                      – Nelson Mandela

Sport, by its very nature is focussed around participation and inclusion that brings individuals and communities together, and emphasises on their commonalities. It provides a forum to learn skills such as discipline, confidence and leadership and it instils the core principles such as tolerance, cooperation and respect. On 6^th April 2014, the world will celebrate the first International Day of Sports for Development and Peace as proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Its viewed as a world language, that shares a common denominator breaking down all the walls, all the barriers. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, advocates for sport as a worldwide industry that is a powerful tool for progress and development.

Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd. is proud to support the resolution. Sport is an important component for the holistic development of youth, promoting their physical, mental and emotional well being. It is also helps build social connections and promotes world peace and harmony. Sport teaches the value of effort and how to manage victory, as well as defeat. It is also about bridging the cultural and ethnic divides.

The main premise of sport make it an important and practical tool to support the achievements of MDGs (Millennium Development Goals). Sport has a direct impact on health and considerably reduces the likelihood of many diseases. Utilizing sports as a tool for social mobilisation and advocacy has been established. It has played a significant role during  immunization campaigns and HIV/AIDs education workshops as a tool for awareness generation. In the last two decades it has evolved as a significant economic force, providing employment and contributing to local development. Sport has a unique capacity to draw attention which in turn furthers voluntary involvement.

Sport can cut across barriers (both geographically and socially) that divide societies, making it a powerful tool to support conflict prevention and peace building efforts, It has been utilised in countries like Liberia, South Korea, South Africa etc and has worked well in promoting  social and global integration and fostering tolerance. Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd. includes sport as one of the tools in its programmes for mobilizing and sensitizing communities on various programmes.

By: Kumar Anshuman

Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt.Ltd

“Sport has the power to unite people in a way little else can. Sport can create hope where there was once only despair. It breaks down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of discrimination. Sport speaks to people in a language they can understand.”
– Nelson Mandela