DUSHANBE, February 23, 2016, Asia-Plus /Avaz Yuldoshev/ — A court in Dushanbe’s Ismoili Somoni district has fined Indian national, Mr. Apoorva Bhushana Mitra, 800 somoni for “violating norms of Tajikistan’s law on state language.”
According to a statement released by the Ismoili Somoni district court, a 25-year-old Indian national, Apoorva Bhushana Mitra, opened a restaurant in Dushanbe (81 Roudaki Avenue) two years ago and named it ‘Salaam-Namaste’ that is contrary to requirements of the country’s law on state language.
Trial proceedings have reportedly established that contrary to Tajikistan’s law on state language the restaurant’s menu is available only in English and Russian.
Article 20 (1) of Tajikistan’s Law “On State Language” says that texts of stamps and seals of all organization irrespective of forms of property should be created in state language, according to the court’s statement.
Meanwhile, in an interview with
The Times of India
on the occasion of opening of the restaurant, Apoorva Bhushana Mitra said on April 15, 2013 that the eatery was named Salaam-Namaste to show the confluence of cultures of both the countries.
“Tajik people are very friendly. Whenever they see an Indian here they say ”Namaste” (Greetings in Hindi). And when we (Indians) meet these people, we say ”Salaam” (Greetings in Arabic). That”s why we decided to keep the name as ”Salaam-Namaste”. “It shows connection between both the countries and is very catchy with the people here also,” Mitra said.
