THE FEDERAL LANGUAGE
Propagation and Development of Hindi Since its reconstitution in October, 1954, the Hindi Shiksha Samiti has held four meetings. The following action has been taken on the main recommendations made by the Samiti. at its meetings held in November, 1954, February, 1955 and April, 1955:-
(i) A scheme has been instituted from 1955-56 to award scholarships for higher studies in Hindi to students of non-Hindi, speaking areas where such facilities do not exist.
(ii) A sub-Committee was set up to prepare a list of about 2,000 basic Hindi words that would, be used uniformly in Hindi readers for the people of the non-Hindi speaking areas.
(iii) Another sub-Committee was set up to prepare a list of. 500 basic Hindi words which would constitute the minimum standard of literacy in Hindi.
(iv) In may 1955, four Regional Committees, of the Samiti were set up, to tour the non-Hindi speaking States in their respective regions, to survey the work, if any, done for the propagation of Hindi and to suggest interalia a programme to the States so that they might fix certain targets for inclusion in their Second Five-Year Plan.
(v) A general directive was issued, to the, non- Hindi speaking State Governments specifying, certain Heads under which their requests for financial assistance under the Five-Year Plan- could become eligible for consideration by the Central Government.
The Basic Hindi Grammar Committee has submitted the English version of the Grammar to the Government. Steps have been taken to get it printed.
The Committee set up by the Government of India to evolve a keyboard for Hindi typewriters has submitted its interim report sug- gesting a key board for Hindi typewriters. A press note has been. issued inviting comments on the keyboard suggested by the Committee. The keyboard is likely to be finalised early in 1956 taking into consideration the comments received from various sources.
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An exhibition of Hindi books, maps, charts etc. was held at New Delhi from 12th August, 1955 to 21st August, 1955.
At the Hindi Prabodh Examination held in August, 1955, 397 candidates appeared out of whom 362 were successful. The first three successful candidates will be awarded prizes of Rs. 50, Rs. 30 and Rs. 20 respectively in the form of Hindi books.
The Library attached to the Hindi Division has at present a collection of 5,210 books, and subscribes to 58 journals. (Demand No. 19).
Grants to Institutions A sum of Rs. 7,500 was granted to the Sansadeeya Hindi Parishad, New Delhi during 1955-56 for the propagation of Hindi.
A sum of Rs. 31,110 has been sanctioned for payment to the Akhil Bhartiya Hindi Parishad, Agra, for providing training facilities to 60 Hindi teachers from non-Hindi speaking States.
A second instalment of Rs. 10,000 out of the grant of Rs. 30,000 sanctioned during 1954-55 has been paid to the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Madras.
An ad hoc grant of Rs. 15,000 has been given to the Nagri Pra- charini Sabha, Banaras, for preparing a 'Detailed History of Hindi Language and Literature'. A grant of Rs. 1,25,000 was made to the Sabha during 1954-55 to bring out the revised edition of a Standard Hindi Dictionary (Shabda Sagara) and to publish a series of Hindi classics. The second annual instalment of Rs. 25,000 has been paid to the Sabha.
A grant of Rs. 24,000 payable in eight equal quarterly instal- ments, has been sanctioned to Shri G. Martirosi, Director, Interna- tional Commercial Information Services, Madras, for the preparation of a six-language dictionary. Three instalments of Rs. 3,000 each have been paid.
A grant of Rs. 25,000 has been sanctioned to the Receiver, Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad for the preparation of a standard English- Hindi dictionary out of which the first instalment of Rs. 15,000 has already been paid.
The last of four equal instalments of Rs. 15,000 each has been paid to the Hindustani Culture Society, Allahabad, for the preparation of a standard English-Hindi dictionary.
An ad hoc grant of Rs. 50,000, payable in two equal instalments, has been sanctioned to the Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Banaras, for the
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extension of their building, Hindi Library, publication work and mechanical appliances etc. The first instalment of Rs. 25,000 has been paid. (Demand No. 19).
Grants to States Grants on a percentage basis to the extent of Rs. 489,870 have been sanctioned so far to the various non-Hindi speaking State Gov- ernments for implementing their schemes for the promotion of Hindi as approved under Five-Year Plan. (Demand No. 19).
Hindi Encyclopaedia A scheme for the preparation of a Hindi Encyclopaedia in ten volumes of 500 pages each, involving an expenditure of Rs. 6.5 lakhs, has been approved and is likely to be taken up for implementation shortly.
Scientific Terminology in Hindi Finalised lists of Technical Terms in Hindi up to the Secondary stage relating to Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Mathematics and Social Sciences have been published and are available for sale with the Publications Section of the Ministry and the Manager of Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi. The revised lists of Technical Terms in Hindi relating to Transport (Highway Engineering), Defence I (Army Words of Command), Railways (A to H), Posts and Telegraphs (A to M) and Agriculture and the Hindi version of the diplomatic passport have been approved by the Board of Scientific Terminology and have been submitted to the Government for approval.
The revised list of Technical Terms in Hindi relating to Zoology has been submitted to the Board of Scientific Terminology for its approval.
The Provisional Lists of Technical Terms in Hindi relating to Defence II (Air Force-Drill and Parade; Navy-Daily Winter Routine Coning and Steering, Words of Command, Soundings by Lead and Line), Defence III (General Army Terms) and Transport (Highway Engineering) are being revised in the light of comments received on them and will be put up before the Board for approval.
Provisional lists of Technical Terms in Hindi relating to General Administration (Designations), Post and Telegraphs (General Postal Terms), Economics, Engineering, Defence IV (Joint Services Glossary) and Tourism have been circulated to State Governments, Ministries, Universities and other important bodies and individuals for comments.
An Expert Committee on Legal terms set up to prepare Technical Terms in Hindi relating to Law has started functioning. This
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now brings the total number of Expert Committees working under the Board of Scientific Terminology to 19.
The terminological work done in the Ministry has evoked appre- ciation from various quarters.
In accordance with a decision taken to prepare standard manuals in subjects in which terms have been finalised, the work on Physics, Botany and Civics has been started.
A provision of Rs. 2,25,000 has been made for the propagation of Hindi in the budget estimates for 1956-57. Besides, a provision of Rs. 13,00,000 is being made under the Second Five-Year Plan budget for 1956-57 for the 'Central Schemes' and `Other Schemes' that will be implemented conjointly by the Central and State Governments for the propagation and development of Hindi.
The Ministry has published the first of five volumes of "Gyan Sarovar" the popular encyclopaedia in Hindi, that has been planned, to provide interesting and useful reading material for adults who nave received education up to the Middle Standard, and for whom sufficient and suitable reading material is not available. The list of contents of the remaining four volumes has been finalised. (Demand No. 19).
New Schemes The following new schemes are expected to be taken up during 1956-57.
1. Holding periodical seminars for the benefit of Hindi teachers from non-Hindi speaking areas, both in the Hindi speaking areas as well as in the non-Hindi speaking areas.
2. Sending visiting teachers and lecturers from Hindi speaking areas to non-Hindi speaking areas and vice versa.
3. Sending debating teams at School and University level from Hindi-speaking areas to non-Hindi speaking areas and vice versa.
4. Bringing Hindi Readers up to the level of the corresponding English Readers from the standpoint of culture, presentation and general knowledge.
5. Holding an Exhibition-of Scientific and-Technical literature in Hindi. (Demand No. 19).