The NIT Rourkela observed the ‘International Sign Language Day’ with the students of the Rourkela School for the Deaf. The event was organized by the Humanities and Social Sciences Department. Sign language senior teacher, Rourkela School for the Deaf Rajshree Mohanty interpreted the addresses during the programme.
The event started with the Sign Language Nation Anthem. In his introductory remark Prof Ramkrishna Biswal said, “The United Nations General Assembly, in 2017, proclaimed September 23 as the ‘International Day of Sign Language.’ This year’s theme by World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is Sign Language Unite Us. There are approximately 72 million deaf people worldwide and 80% of them are from developing countries. Therefore, to raise awareness about the importance of sign language in our lives, the NIT Rourkela has organized the event.”
On the occasion, Director, NIT Rourkela, Prof K Umamaheshwar Rao interacting with the students said, “Like other languages, sign language is also the linguistic identity of a person. It is the natural form of expression which can simply be observed by mother-child behaviour. It is heartening to see these children have the ability to use this universal tool of communication to interact with the rest of the world effortlessly. Verbal communication might be limited but thoughts are not, so keep thinking and crafting the ways of expression through sign language.”
Principal, Rourkela School for the Deaf Kalpana Mahanta shared the activities taken up by the school. With the efforts of research scholars of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department (HS), segments like the game, videos, talk, and expression quiz were organised. A mesmeriszing dance was performed by children of the deaf school.