On 20 February, Bolgar Islamic academy held a solemn event for teachers and students on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day, which is celebrated around the world on 21 February.

Language is the culture of a people, and learning about other languages helps to understand how interesting and diverse the world is. And that is the wisdom of the Almighty, who created people of different nationalities and speaking different languages.

As noted by the rector of the Academy, Farkhat Khusnutdinov, today representatives of 18 nationalities are studying at the Academy: Tatars, Bashkirs, Russians, Avars, Dargins, Ingush, Chechens, Ossetians, Adygeans, Kabardians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, Dungans, Turkmens, Azerbaijanis and Arabs.

“Bolgar Islamic academy is not only an educational institution for the study of Islamic sciences, but also the largest center for the formation of tolerant relations between religious communities and the strengthening of interreligious peace,” noted the rector.

Among the distinguished guests of the event are the acting Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism of the Donetsk People’s Republic Yuri Martynov, the head of the Spassky District of Tatarstan Fargat Mukhametov and the professor, head of the Committee for working with Tatar local historians of the Executive Committee of the World Tatar Congress, member of the National Council of the World Tatar Congress, chairman of the Council of the Regional Public Organization “Society of Tatar Local Historians” of the Republic of Tatarstan Albert Burkhanov.

Addressing the students, Albert Burkhanov reminded that religious figures are not just mullahs, but teachers, mentors of society.

“Patriotism, love for the Motherland begins at home, in the family, where parents teach to love and respect their ancestors, follow their traditions, know the language,” the speaker advised.

In his turn, Academy lecturer Ahmad Sheikh-Mustafa noted that the native language is rightfully considered the language of thought. After all, one can speak in several languages, but when it comes to thinking, everyone turns to their native language.

“Only the native language gives confidence and self-respect. When we address a person in their native language, we immediately make the interlocutor feel at ease with us. It’s no wonder that Nelson Mandela said, ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart,'” explained the sheikh.

The students themselves actively participated in the event. Master’s and doctoral students acquainted the audience with the poetic heritage of their peoples, talking about key figures in literature and reciting poems by popular national authors.