Department of Foreign Languages, Jamia Millia Islamia, organises a talk on “Italy: Culture, Traditions and Everyday Life”
The Department of Foreign Languages (DFL), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), organised an engaging talk titled “Italy: Culture, Traditions and Everyday Life” by Dr. Michele Tantardini, Associate Professor at Penn State Harrisburg, USA, on Tuesday, 13th October 2026, at Ho Chi Minh Hall, JMI.
The session began with a welcome address by the coordinator, Dr. Rohit Bajaj, Assistant Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, JMI, who also moderated the programme. In his opening remarks, Dr. Bajaj highlighted Italy’s significant contribution to global history, culture and education. He referred to the University of Bologna, which is widely recognised as the oldest university in the Western world, and highlighted Italy’s remarkable wealth of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, emphasising the country’s enduring historical and cultural significance.
Prof. Md. Faizullah Khan, Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, JMI, formally welcomed the gathering and introduced the speaker. He highlighted the relevance of the lecture’s theme in helping students develop a deeper understanding of Italian society, culture and traditions. As a gesture of welcome and appreciation, Prof. Shahid Tasleem of the Department of Foreign Languages, JMI, presented a sapling to Dr. Tantardini.
Beginning his talk, Dr. Michele Tantardini described the session as an interaction with students rather than merely a conventional lecture. He offered an insightful overview of Italy’s geography, regions and distinctive cultural identities. He explained how the country’s historical development, culinary practices and local traditions vary significantly across its regions, making Italy a nation characterised by remarkable internal diversity.
Dr. Tantardini also discussed the linguistic diversity of Italy, drawing attention to the different dialects spoken across the country. He explored the cultural and socio-economic differences between northern and southern Italy, including variations in food habits, regional lifestyles and patterns of industrial development. Through these examples, he illustrated how Italy, despite being a unified nation, encompasses a wide spectrum of regional identities and ways of life.
The speaker also briefly introduced students to Dante Alighieri’s celebrated literary masterpiece, Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy), highlighting its place in Italian literary and cultural heritage. The interactive session encouraged students to engage with the speaker through questions and discussions on everyday life in Italy.
Towards the end, Dr. Pooja Paswan, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, JMI, who played an instrumental role in facilitating the organisation of the event, delivered the vote of thanks.
The lively exchange between Dr. Tantardini and the students made the session informative, engaging and enriching.
