The Indian Literary & Art Society of Australia (ILASA) Inc. successfully organized the celebration of International Mother Language Day on March 2, 2025, at the Boronia Grove Community Centre in Epping, Sydney.
International Mother Language Day, which is observed globally every year on February 21, serves as a vital occasion to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as multilingualism. The day emphasizes the importance of mother languages in preserving cultural heritage and fostering deeper mutual understanding among people from diverse backgrounds.
The event brought together a rich and diverse gathering of poets and language enthusiasts, with participants representing a variety of linguistic communities, including Hindi, English, Gujarati, Bengali, Rajasthani, Sindhi, Kachchi, Kashmiri and Urdu. Over 20 poets recited heartfelt and impactful poems in their mother tongue, offering a beautiful and colorful showcase of India’s linguistic heritage. The youngest poet of the evening, 7-year-old Prahar Mehta, delighted the audience with a poem written by her mother, Harita Mehta.
Among the guest poets were Dr. Nafas Ambalvi, Dr. Vinaysheel Chaturvedi, and Dr. Meenakshi Joshi, whose presence and poetic contributions enriched the event further.
A special highlight of the evening was the launch of two significant story anthologies by Australian Hindi writers: “Australia Ki Chaynit Kahaniyan”, published by AISECT Publications, and “Vriddh Man Ki Shreshth Kahaniyan”, released by Diamond Publications in India. Both books were carefully edited by Rekha Rajvanshi, and they showcase the literary talent and creative expressions of the Indian diaspora in Australia.
Additionally, the event marked the unveiling of the poster for the Vishwarang International Hindi Olympiad, organized by Rabindranath Tagore University, which further underscores the growing global interest in Hindi language and literature.
The event was diligently emceed by Mrinal Sharma and Ingita Thakkar, whose smooth and engaging presentations kept the program flowing seamlessly.
A special mention goes to the ILASA team, including Rekha Rajvanshi, Archna Dharni, Dr. Shailja Chaturvedi, Pradeep Upadhyay, Abhishek Tongia, Archana, and Mrinal, whose dedication and ongoing commitment to promoting language and culture played a crucial role in the success of the event.
As the program concluded, organization’s founder Rekha Rajvanshi extended her heartfelt thanks to all the poets, guests, and the Sukoon Group poets, for graciously sharing the space and contributing to the celebration of linguistic and cultural diversity with ILASA.
