Europe’s rich tapestry of cultures is beautifully reflected in its linguistic diversity. European Day of Languages, celebrated annually on September 26th, highlights the importance of preserving this vibrant heritage. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the day, and the Council of Europe has organized initiatives to celebrate the diversity of European languages and encourage communication across cultures.
Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola, sparked a debate on the use of gender-neutral pronouns after criticizing LinkedIn’s AI chatbot for referring to him as ‘they’ instead of ‘he.’ Aggarwal suggested that the practice of using pronouns like ‘they/their’ was borrowed from Western culture and not part of Indian tradition. Aggarwal claimed that most Indians are unaware of the political motivations behind pronoun usage, and that it’s primarily driven by corporate culture in multinational companies. He advocated for rejecting this practice, stating that Indian culture has always had respect for all individuals. Aggarwal’s comments were met with mixed reactions. Some agreed with his stance, while others highlighted the existence of gender-neutral pronouns in Indian languages and questioned the harm caused by their use. Artist Varun Grover and other users satirically criticized Aggarwal’s remarks, arguing that true respect should extend to individuals’ choices, including their preferred pronouns.
In a recent speech, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant emphasized the importance of safeguarding the unique cultural and linguistic heritage of Goa. He stated that the preservation of Goan identity is crucial for the state’s progress and development.
