The
National Library in collaboration with the municipality of Beau
Bassin/Rose Hill, is organising a book exhibition
on June 5 at the municipality.
Two other exhibitions will be held at the Port Louis Caudan Waterfront and in
Rodrigues on June 26 and July 31 respectively.
To mark 15th World Book Day, the National Library also held a debate on the
theme Rapprochement des Cultures (interrelation of cultures) at its
headquarters in Port Louis.
Participants included Mrs Nandini D. Bhautoo-Dewnarain, lecturer at the University of Mauritius, author Chit Dukhira, and Mr
Gaetan Jaquette.
Mr Robert Furlong, who was moderator, claimed that the media does not give
enough importance to cross-cultural understanding and tends to favour coverage
of cultural division. Books are works of art and sciences, and vehicles for
ideas, he said.
“They magnificently materialise creative diversity, generate universal
knowledge and contribute to intercultural dialogue. They are instruments for
peace.”
Decision-makers, publishers and educators will need to consider effective ways
of promoting books as a tool of knowledge, said Mr Furlong.
Nandinee Bhautoo-Denarain talked about globalisation. People are now more
conscious of different types of cultural expression as well as the fusion of
cultures, she said.
Mr Dukhira spoke mostly about pluralism in Mauritius. He said that the Creole
language has been a common language “for all of us”.
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