Page ii � THE CANADIAN INDIA TIMES 'February 16,198
Helping lo presier ve
By Gina Wilkin*
Although French and Inglish are the official languages of Canada, examination of ihe diverse cultural background of k& citizens -more, than a ^uJarter of the population comesfjrom non-British or non-French countries - could lead one to assume that Canada is a cburttry of many different languages.
The fact is thai, in the 1971 'census, <pn.ly about )L4 per cent of tlje'. Doou4ation listed their motherf tongues as "something otjher than English or French, Perhaps " more surprising is the Tact that only seven- per cent indicated that the language spoken .in ihe home* was not one of the official languages.
These statistics may indicate that the "melting pot' effect, commonly' attributed :o the United States, is creeping into the Canadian experic'nce. Instead Mbeing che" mosaic it has .always prided itself in being, Canada may actually be bjending into-pne^ Cultural being. . Dr. Sid Sodhi of Dalhousie's education department does not want to see thii happen. He especially does not want the Canadians of his own ethnic background, East Indian, to lojrerthe knowledge of �their ow.ijJ language and cultural heritage that he'feels is so important.
To help East Indian parents of a like mind across Canada, Dr. Sodhi is preparing a series of teaching books on the "at least 18" official languages of India j The first book, Teach Your Child Punjabi, The Language of the Punjab, -camc.;__ouT as an experimental edition in December, 1975. Produced in collaboration with ^A._ and Lirllian Ismaily, tho book was printed at the Dalhousie University ^Printing Centre and was then distributed by mail to about 70 Punjabi associations across the country. The associations were also given the rights to reproduce the book; should more copies be needed.
Response to the Punjabi book was so favourable that in 1979 Dr. Sodhi, again in collaboration with the Ismai-; lys and with S^S. Malik, produced Teach Your Child
Hindi, the Language �f �' India. This book was also mailed out, this time to about 50 Hindi associations; with the same rights to reproduc-
; don. . � '. \ / �/
Another book, includin lessons in English, Frenc Hindi and Punjabi, is sch eduled for publication i 1981.. . Dr, Roseann Runte, assistant dean of arts�and science at Dalhousie and . chairman of the French department, collaborated with Dr: Sodhi on the French translation.
Says Dr. Sodhi; /�'*! consider that ail these children are good, Canadians, but 1 feel that they are better off if they also retain the language of their parents."
In his introduction to Teach Your Child Hindi; entitled "Psycho-Educational Processes in. Learning a Second Language/' Dr. Sodhi ex-/plains: "Language is a tool of communication. ! Our nat* ive tongue enables us to express: our needs, desires and emotions to significant
-pecans in our.environment. ButUhe advantages of jnulti* Iingualism are; fairly clear. The addition of other" langi-uages to the linguistic ability of a person can improve his ability to communicate with his fellow men who employ different'languages, k he*lps
1 the individual in conducting his personal and public business in different countries and makes travelling a more rewarding experience.'' Dr. Sodhi himself is actively trying to make his culture more accessible to not only his fellow Fndo-Canadians, but also to the pftblic through his: 'largely one-man effort
'with! Halifax Cable vision, a weekly half-hour television show called India Is. That television show has been] so successful that tapes of 10 selected programs have been sent to several interested cable stations and Indian associations in MajiiioJia/ Requests from other cable stations across Canada are also expected^
Another effort he has made to help his people ,'to further understand their roots is./a. book called Readings in'Sikh-
Ham, which he edited. The book is a collection of 25 articles on various aspects of the Sikh culture, four of which Dr. Sodhi wrote him-
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Along with the 16 other handbooks he has in bis future. Dr. Sodhi also plans a series of audio-visual kits to accompany the language lessons The kits will include about 68 slides per language and an example of the exact renunciation of the language on tapes.
For further information on the books or the audio - visual programs, contact Br, Sid Sodhi at 424-2591/
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The International Development Association (IDA), the . World Bank's affiliate for concessipnaFy lending, has approved a credit of SDR 32.6 millipn ($42 million) to India for a second urban development project to be carried out in Madras.
Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, is an important trade and commercial center and one of the; most rapidly growing metropolitan centers in-1 India. Its present population is ..eistimate:d ..;'at 4.8 million. IDA approved a $24 million credit in 1977 for a first urban development project in Madras.
The $�8 million second Madras urban development project includes: (a) the development of about 15,000 residential and about 20ft industrial plots on tWo sites totalling about 180 hectares, together with construction and machinery loans and provision of community services; (b) .provision of basic infrastructure and land tenure to about 50/000 slum households and provision of home impTovertient loans and grants to about 80,000 slum households; (c) purchase of about 550 buses and depot improvements for Pall-avan Transport Corporation and construction and improvement of two roads linking sites and services areas to employment centers; (d) civil . works and equipment to improve solid waste collection and infrastructure maintenance in the Madras Municipal Corporation; and (e) te^ciunical assistance and training for implementing agencies.
The IDA credit to India is for 50 years, including 10 years of grace.; It does not carry interest but bears a service charge of 3/4 of 1 per cent per annum.
NEW DRUG -FOR RHEUMATISM - u
New Delhi, (UNI) - For the
first time in the history of Indian medicine, a new drug, ^ conceived and; evolved by Indian scientists/ will/ be available for treatment of rheumatism and related disorders. -�;��-/ .;'-/
The new drug, '4Tromarir\ has been developed by the Regional Research Laboratory (RRL), Hyderabad.
^Tromarir' has undergone extensive clinical trials in India for over ten years.
lmmigrati(0>mi Regulations and
Delays ' i'. : /
The Canada Immigration Centre inform^ NACOI that normal time taken by their Delhi office for finalizing cases of different immigra-tionl categories is as follows: / Parents 200 days � [ 'Spouses 410 days * Asisisted Relatives 464 days Others 476 days
MEUGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Iri response to representa tioii of Gulshan Saini^ Vice-President of Institute of Professionals, the Federal Treasury Board had informed the!Canadian Hpman Rights Commission last year that persons intending to avail of religious holidays may have it subject to exigencies of the work as may. be decided by Head of a federal depart--meht. The Human Rights Commission asked NACOI for a list, of religious holidays/festivals in year 1981, as may be observed generally by East'Indian community. .. -//;/
DIFFICULTIES FACED ON VISITS TO INDIA
Reports have been received a bout difficulties being faced by visitors to India in respect of I reservations for return journey, although it is okayed from here* in advance. I.nmigration Clearance Certificate in respect of Indian nationals, who are residents abroad and visit India ori return tickets for short visit, recently t introduced by -the Government of India is said to" < be causing delays and dislocation of return programs of individuals. Several have to face unreasonable and impolite attitude of customs and health officials. This is presenting a discouraging view to a visitor to the homeland. NACOI intends to take up the matter with the Minister concerned wno
has asked for specific cases to be referred to him, if any. NACOI requests you to send brief details of the cases. Confidentiality is assured.
QUEBEC Montreal- �'�:/�'.
Contacts with ment
local Govena-
NACOI Local Chapter and its seven affiliated organizations met the Public Relations Officer of the Department of Immigration Quebec to understand in detail, the ways and procedure by which the Local Chapter and Other organizations can secure information and assistance from government's welfare, recreation and imm igration services.
Local Chapter was invited to attend the Constitutional Conference of the Afro-Asian Foundation of Canada, president of the Local Chapter, V. Planthara, was nominated as member of the Drafting Committee for preparation of the memorandum' to be submitted by the Foundation to the government. C?) )
Local Chapter has also/been approved for membership on the Quebec Council of Min-orities. .
With the efforts of National President, G. Khetrapal, Radio Quebec has accepted NACOI representation on its sub-committee for comihun: ity radio programs for minorities in Montreal.
ALBERTA
OTTAWA Drop-in-Centre
The NACOI Ottawa Chap-ter|, in cooperation with local affiliated organizations, has established a number of working committees to initiate and develop policies relating to social, immigration and community issues. The Executive of the Ottawa Chapter has agreed to support and provide $500.00 to the Indo-Canadian Women's Circle towards the establishment of a drop-in ^centre. The centre will provide a wide range of social ancV educational guidance services including counselling and assistance to community members confronting personal/family problems etc. All will be in strict confid> en!ce. �'/^':;///'/-v:----:
IIMMIGRATION ISSUES
A committee has been estabhshed to monitor government immigration, policies and administrative practices as it affects members of the Indo-Canadian commu- to India mty. .
Edmonton
Local chapters
Efforts of Robinson
Koilpillai and other friends representing various community organizations' in the province have re suited in the establishment of new Local Chapters in Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer.
Man of the Year
Mr. Robinson Koilpillai, NACOI Vice-President, Alberta, was acclaimed as "Man of the Year" for year 1980. He was presented a plaque by Honourable Jim Fleming, the Federal Minis-ter-ol' State for Multicultur-alism.
ATLANTIC
Nova/Scotia
Gurmail Singk
The Chapter, in cooperation with; Indo-Canadian Association of Nova Scotia, has clone a very appreciable job to look after Gurmail
Singh, a sailor, on ah Indian ship. Funds were raised for his treatment and after care, Mr. Singh, a citizen of India� was aboard the s h ip � MARIVIC. The vessel was taking on a cargo of coal at Sydney, Nova Scotia, where in a sudden explosion Mr.. Singh received extensive burns. He was admitted to Victoria General Hospital. The Indo-Canadian Association arranged for his proper medical care and legal aid on international level to safeguard his interests of service and health, which would otherwise have been beyond his rea^h, had he been seni