Port Blair, Mar 30: A basic course in Japanese language commenced at JNRM today with its inauguration by the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Lt. Gen AK Singh (Retd.) in the auditorium of JNRM this evening. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Anindo Majumdar, Smt. Rupa Ray, Secretary (Education), Ms. Tanvi Garg, senior officers of the Administration, learners of Japanese language, students and Lecturers of JNRM, representatives of ACCI besides stakeholders in the tourism sector were present during the inaugural ceremony. “There is a great joy in learning new language and you will feel connected to another part of the world”, he said.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt. Governor emphasized that in today’s competitive world our students should also move forward and starting this course in the Islands is one such step in this direction. “Learning an additional language, especially a foreign language, will give our students an edge in seeking job not only in tourism sector but in other arenas too”, the Lt. Governor said. Learning any language is a great confidence building measure, he said, adding that the demand for having a course in this language here is an old one.
Emphasising the clarion call given by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to ‘Make in India’, the Lt. Governor said “we should be able to speak the language of the foreign investors in our country”.
Speaking about the progress being made in the communication sector in the Isles and the opportunities it will bring for the Islanders, the Lt. Governor stated that by 2018 the undersea Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) from Chennai connecting Port Blair and five other Islands will become reality. The work in this regard will commence in another 5 to 6 months, he said. The Lt. Governor reiterated that with this, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will become the best place for IT related industries and services like call centre etc. “Since our children are very good at languages, they will pick up foreign languages too, very fast, and as they are highly disciplined, they will find good job opportunities too”, he said, and called upon the youth to develop proficiency in foreign languages to prepare for 2019, by when the undersea optical fibre cable will be completely in place.
The Lt. Governor also asked the Principal, ANCOL and DBRAIT to start courses in other foreign languages in their colleges. Apart from Japanese, four more foreign languages viz. German, French, Russian, Chinese should be started in the Islands, he said. He also mentioned that owing to their hardwork and precision, Japan has come up post World War-II and asked the new learners to also understand Japanese culture and their good qualities.
Complementing all stakeholders for this initiative, the Lt. Governor also asked the Secretary (Education) to explore possibilities of providing advanced course in Japanese language to the learners.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary, Shri Anindo Majumdar expressed happiness on the launch of this basic course in Japanese language. “It will fulfil the long felt demand of the people of the Islands to learn Japanese”, he said, emphasizing the need to learn other international languages as well. Learning foreign languages will open many job opportunities for the Islanders, the Chief Secretary said. The Chief Secretary also thanked Prof. Jayanta Misra for volunteering to teach Japanese language.
Prof. Jayanta Kr. Mishra, HoD, Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Campus, Brookshabad, who is the resource person of this course, in his address, expressed gratitude to the Lt. Governor for starting this course. About the language, he said Japanese is a very simple language and one can learn to speak and read Japanese very easily. He expressed hope that the learners will enjoy learning the language.
A two minutes’ silence was also observed to pay respect to those who achieved martyrdom during Japanese occupation in these Islands.
Earlier welcoming the gathering, the Principal, JNRM, Dr. Francis Xavier said that arrangements to start the basic course in Japanese language in JNRM has been done within a very short span of time and assured that a course in French will be started soon. Besides, some skill development courses will also be introduced in JNRM in the coming days, he said. The students of JNRM presented a Japanese dance befitting the occasion.
The programme was coordinated by Asst. Professor, JNRM, Ms. Jochi Bed while it concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Maseem, Member, Student Council, JNRM.
i m also joint Japanese language. it very beautiful .