JAPANESE SCHOLAR ON SIKKIM SOJOURN

GANGTOK, October 25: Mami Yamada, a Japanese writer who has been selected for Sahitya Akademi’s Ananda Commarswamy Fellowship is on a one month visit to Sikkim to learn more about the tradition, culture and languages of Sikkim.

An informal interaction with the fellowship winner and the eminent literary figures of the State was held here today at a local hotel.

Organized by Sahitya Akademi, Kolkata in co-ordination with Sikkim Sahitya Akademi, the interactive session was also attended by the Lecturers from Government Degree College and other literary figures.

Ms. Yamada highlighted on the basic facts of Japanese language and literature. She said that over 130 million people all over world speak the Japanese language, which is the only working language spoken in Japan as there are no other languages spoken in the country.

Due to rapid globalization taking place round the world the Japanese people are now in the process of learning the English language, she said. She also said that the Japanese Literature is very rich and easy to learn. She informed that the Japanese words are much more symbolic and can be understood easily.

Ms. Yamada is also an Executive Director of the India- Japan art Institute and has also written a number of books. The major works include ‘The Monday Monster’, a short adventure fiction in English, Lost Officer, non-fiction in Japanese and Japanese and suicide, interview with the Dalai Lama, among others.

The President Sikkim Sahitya Akademi GS Lama, while welcoming Ms. Yamada, highlighted on the literary activities in Sikkim. A lot of work is in progress in the State towards the development of language and literature, Mr. Lama said. He also informed that the State Government has recognized 11 regional languages in the State.

The President also talked about Sikkim Akademi, focusing on its core area of work, which is to develop the regional languages. The Sikkim Akademi was established in the year 2002 with an aim to develop the regional languages and has been actively involved in various literary activities such as organizing annual book fair etc, he further said.