DEVELOPMENT OF HINDI, SANSKRIT AND MODERN INDIAN LANGUAGES
The Ministry of Education is responsible for the promotion, development and enrichment of Hindi, the official language of the Union and has, therefore launched several programmes for these purposes. The programme for the propagation of Hindi includes grant of financial assistance to Voluntary Hindi organisations, appointment of Hindi teachers in primary, middle and higher secondary schools in non-Hindi speaking States, establishment of Hindi teachers' training colleges in non-Hindi speaking States, maintenance of an Institute of Research and Training of Hindi teachers, supply of free Hindi books to school and college libraries particularly in non-Hindi speaking areas and award of scholarships for post-matric studies in non-Hindi speaking States. The programme of enrichment and development of Hindi includes schemes of preparation, translation and publication of standard books of University level in Hindi through official and voluntary agencies as well as universities and learned societies, preparation and translation of books in Hindi with the assistance of private publishing concerns and preparation and publication of encyclopaedia, dictionaries, and translation of official literature and evolution of scientific and technical terminology in Hindi.
2. Various schemes for propagation and development of Sanskrit are being continued. They include financial assistance to voluntary Sanskrit organisations, Gurukulas and Sanskrit Pandits in indigent circumstances; maintenance of Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, reprinting of important out of print Sanskrit books, scholarships to the products of Sanskrit Pathasala and Sanskrit students in high/higher secondary schools. This is in addition to what is being done by the State Governments in this regard.
3. A separate programme is implemented for the development Modern Indian Languages (other than Hindi) under which grants are given to various State Governments, voluntary organisations/institutions for bringing out suitable publication e.g. encyclopaedias, bilingual dictionaries, books of knowledge and books bringing out similarities among different languages.
A. PROPAGATION OF HINDI 4. Assistance to Voluntary Organisations.-The work of propagation of Hindi through voluntary organisations particularly in non-Hindi speaking States has gained momentum during the year under review. Grants totalling Rs. 11,40,000/- have been given to voluntary organisations during 1964-65 (so far) as against Rs. 4,71,000/- during 1963-64. The schemes for which financial assistance was given include running of Hindi Teaching classes, in non-Hindi speaking States, training and appointment of Hindi Pracharaks, setting up of Hindi Libraries and Reading rooms, preparation of bilingual dictionaries, running of Hindi typewriting and short-hand classes, running Hindi medium schools and colleges in non-Hindi States etc. The quantum of grant admissible under the scheme has been raised from 60% to 75% of the expenditure on approved activities from the next financial year.
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5. Establishment of Hindi Medium Colleges and Schools in non- Hindi Speaking States.-During the third Plan period, it was decided to establish Hindi medium schools and colleges in non-Hindi speaking States. A token provision for this purpose was made in the Ministry's budget for the current year but the scheme has not made much headway. The question of setting up of such schools and colleges is under consideration in consultation with the various State Governments.
6. Hindi Teachers' Training Colleges in Non-Hindi Speaking States.The expansion of facilities for the teachers of Hindi in non- Hindi speaking States required adequate increased supply of trained Hindi teachers. Accordingly several Hindi Teachers' Training Colleges have been opened in the various non-Hindi speaking States. The entire expenditure on the establishment and maintenance of such colleges is met by the Union Government. Under this scheme one training college each in Kerala, Gujarat, Madras and two colleges in Mysore were established during the years 1961-62 to 1963-64. Financial assistance was also given to the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra to expand the existing facilities. This year one additional college in Mysore and Andhra Pradesh has been set up to meet their growing demand of trained Hindi teachers. A new training college has also been set up in West Bengal this year. An expenditure of Rs. 9 lakh is likely to be incurred on the opening of new colleges and maintenance of existing ones during 1964-65. A committee has been set up by the Ministry to look into the working of these colleges, suggest improvements if any, and also to review their syllabii. The report of the committee is expected shortly.
7. Appointment of Hindi Teachers.--Under the programme of direct propagation of Hindi through primary, middle and high and higher secondary schools under the control of the State Governments, the Government of India have been placing funds at the disposal of the Governments of the non-Hindi speaking States for appointment of Hindi teachers at various levels
7.1. Prior to 1962-63 the Ministry had been providing funds for the appointment of at least one Hindi teacher in a high or higher secondary school. From 1962-63 this provision had been extended to cover primary and middle schools as well. Also from 1962-63 Government of India have agreed to meet hundred per cent expenditure on the appointment of Hindi teachers. The State Governments have been advised to go ahead with their programme of appointment of Hindi teachers in the schools.
8. Kendriya Hindi Shikshana Mandal,Agra.-In order to supply up-to-date expert knowledge and professional guidance in respect of teaching method and allied pedagogical problems the Union Government had set up an autonomous body entitled Kendriya Hindi Shikshana Mandal which is running a Hindi Teachers' Training and Research Institute at Agra. The Institute is catering for three different courses equivalent to T. T. C., B. Ed. and M. Ed. and is also conducting research on vocabulary, content of various courses and techniques of teaching Hindi with special reference to the requirements of non-Hindi regions. 132 teachers are undergoing training during this year.
8.1. Teachers from different parts of the country as well as Teachers Training Colleges in the non-Hindi speaking States have been benefited by the research work done at the Institute and the expert guidance provided by it. During the current year 150 students and teachers in the various training colleges set up in the States visited the Institute. The institute has also taken
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up the programme of conducting short term training courses. During the current financial year a grant of Rs. 4.25 lakh has so far been given to the Mandal for the training of Hindi teachers and various other projects launched by it. Programme for the next year includes admission of 200 trainees, conducting of refresher courses, and special courses for the students of Training colleges in the States and taking up of more research projects. For all this a provision of Rs. 6.50 lakh has been made in the budget.
9. Free Supply of Hindi Books.-For the propagation of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking States the scheme for the supply of Hindi books as free gifts to schools, colleges and public libraries was continued. Certain selected books have also been supplied to Hindi speaking States, universities and voluntary Hindi organisations. During the year under review Hindi books were also distributed free to the Armed Forces posted at the borders of the country with a view to raising their morale and to inculcate in them interest in Hindi.
10. Preparation of Bilingual Primers (Self-Taught Series).-To facilitate learning of various South Indian languages through the medium of Hindi, Hindi-Malayalam, Hindi-Kannada and Hindi-Telugu primers are under preparation by the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Madras on behalf of this Ministry. Hindi-Tamil self-taught is ready for publication. A provision of Rs. 8 lakh has been made for this project during 1965-66. Primers and Readers for foreigners learning Hindi are also being prepared in collaboration with the K. M. Institute of Linguistic Studies, Agra.
11. Scholarships for Study of Hindi.-Details of this scheme are mentioned under the Chapter on `Scholarships.'
12. Hindi Shiksha Samiti.-Hindi Shiksha Samiti which advises the Government on matters relating to the propagation and development of Hindi in the country met in August, 1964 and made several recommendations, which are being implemented.
13. Central Hindi Directorate and Its Regional Offices.-The Central Hindi Directorate, a subordinate office under the Ministry, continued to work as a central agency for implementing the programmes for the propagation and development of Hindi. The Directorate also continued to provide secretarial assistance to the Standing Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology which was set up in 1961.
13.1. The two Regional Offices at Calcutta and [Madras under the administrative control of the Central Hindi Directorate continued to coordinate the programmes to serve as a liasion between the Ministry, voluntary Hindi organisations and the State Governments. Setting up of two more regional offices is still under consideration.
14. Encouragement of Hindi Abroad :
14.1. Establishment of Chairs of Indian Studies (Particularly Hindi) Abroad.-The cultural lecturers appointed by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations continued to teach Hindi in Trinidad, British Guiana and Surinam. In addition, the salary of the Hindi teacher at the University of Rome was also continued to be subsidised by the Council.
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14.2. Teaching of Hindi to Foreign Students Studying in India.-The Indian Council for Cultural Relations organised Hindi classes for the benefit of overseas students studying in various universities and Institutions of higher learning.
14.3. Award of Prizes to Students of Indian Languages (Particularly Hindi) in Foreign Countries.-Prizes in the form of free round-trip to India for foreign students learning Hindi and other Indian languages are proposed to be continued. It is expected that Hindi, Sanskrit and Tamil students from some foreign countries will visit India during the course of the financial year, as in the past.
14.4. I.C.C.R. Professors and Lecturers.-The three cultural lecturers of the Council stationed in Trinidad, British Guiana and Surinam have continued their useful work of teaching Hindi and giving lectures on different aspects of Indian culture. The Council continued its subsidy to the Hindi lecturer at the University of Rome, Italy.
B. DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT OF HINDI 15. Production of Literature.-The Ministry of Education is primarily engaged in the production of such literature as would enrich Hindi and make it a powerful medium of instruction and vehicle of administration. The activities in this behalf include the evolution of terminology in scientific and technical subjects, publication of lists of such terminology, pamphlets, booklets, dictionaries and glossaries of technical terms in English and with Hindi equivalents and their Hindi-English version.
16. Periodicals.-Three regular issues of the `Bhasha' quarterly have so far been brought out. A special issue of the magazine was brought out in the memory of late Pandit Mahabir Prasad Dwivedi a doyen of Hindi literature. The question of bringing out one more quarterly journal on scientific and technical terminology is still under consideration.
17. Preparation and Translation of Standard Works of University Level.-With hundred per cent assistance by the Union Government, the programme of preparation, translation and publication of standard works in Hindi was continued through the universities, academic bodies of the State governments and literary societies of all-India status engaged in a similar job. In addition to whole-time cells for translation/original writing already established at Delhi, Bhopal and Banaras, two more cells have been set up at Ranchi and Jaipur. The small translation bureau set up in the Central Hindi Directorate was also continued in the year under report. Gujarat State and Punjabi University are also taking advantage of the scheme for translation of standard works into Gujarati and Punjabi. In all there are 41 agencies as against 33 last year,which are engaged in production of books.
17.1. So far 527 titles have been approved for translation and publication in Hindi under this scheme. Ten books were brought out in the current year, raising the total number of books so far to 14. The contribution of the Central Hindi Directorate has been 9 books. Nineteen books are under print. Manuscripts of 100 books are ready for publication with the various Translating Agencies. Translation of 347 books and original writing of 39 books are in hand.
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18. Preparation, Translation and Publication of Books in Collaboration with Publishers.-This scheme aims at bringing out scientific and worthwhile knowledge within the easy reach of the common reader in Hindi. The scheme includes translation of standard works and books for children, and under which 1/3rd of the copies ordered to be printed are purchased by Government. In this way, the cost of production of the publishers is almost met. Out of 220 books approved to be brought out under the scheme, 14 have been published so far.
18.1. Some publishers on their own initiative have been bringing out standard works in Hindi. They are being encouraged by purchasing some copies of the books, provided terminology evolved by the Ministry of Education is used in the production of books, and the latter are certified to be of appropriate standard.
19. Production of Books on the basis of 50 per cent Assistance.- Under the scheme only Agra and Gujarat Universities have so far undertaken the translation of books in Hindi and Gujarati. The scheme is being given wide publicity so that other universities may also take advantage of it.
20. Hindi Encyclopaedia.-The work of preparing a ten-volume Hindi Encyclopaedia in Hindi at a total cost of Rs. 11.67 lakh was entrusted to the Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi in 1956. The Sabha has brought out four volumes of the Encyclopaedia. The fifth volume is nearing completion.
21. Standard Key-Boards for Hindi Typewriters and Teleprinters.- A standard key-board for Devanagari (Hindi-Marathi) Typewriters has since been finalised and typewriters with this key-board are expected to be manufactured soon. Standard key-board for Hindi teleprinters is also being prepared.
B. I. TERMINOLOGY WORK 22. Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology.-The Commission had completed the work of review and evolution of terminology upto First Degree standard in seven Science subjects. The Science Glossary, Volume 1, containing Hindi equivalents of technical terms in these subjects has been published. The Expert Advisory Committee of the Commission on Medicine and Agriculture have finalised the coining of Hindi equivalents of 14,000 terms on Medical Sciences, and about 4,000 terms in Agriculture.
22.1. The Evolution of terminology in Engineering subjects by the Commission's Cell at the Roorkee University has made considerable headway. The terms will be finalised by the Commission by holding a seminar shortly.
22.2. The Commission has finalised Hindi equivalents of Designational Terms used in General Administration on all-India basis, in collaboration with the representatives of Government of India and the State governments. The Glossaries of Designational Terms and Administrative Terms have been published. The Commmission is proposing to set up Cells under its own auspices for evolution of terminology in specialised Sciences in the institutes/universities capable of handling this work.
23. Preparation of Terminological Indices.-Preparation of terminological Indices pertaining to works of Keshava, Jayasi, Surdas, Prem Chand (Godan),
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Ayodhya Singh Upadhyaya (Priya Pravas), Shridhar Pathak, Shri Maithili Sharan Gupta (Saket), Shri Jai Shankar Prasad (Kamayani), Bisal Deva Raso, Kabir, Tulsidas (except Ram Charitmanas) and Bharatendu Harish Chandra was entrusted to various Indian universities. The manuscripts are under final stages of preparation. It is proposed to take up printing of a few selected Indices during 1965-66.
24. Publication of Omnibus Volumes of the Works of Eminent Hindi Writers.-Complete works of a particular writer or a poet or of a literary period are being compiled in a single compact volume. Three of such Omnibus volumes i.e. one each on the complete works of Rahim, Gang and Nagaridas have been prepared so far with the full financial assistance from this Ministry. Publication of more such volumes is under consideration.
25. Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias.-To enrich Hindi lexicographical literature, dictionaries and encyclopaedias are being compiled by the Central Hindi Directorate as also by a few Hindi organisations and academic bodies. The following glossaries and dictionaries have so far been compiled :
(i) A Glossary of technical terms in use in the Modern Indian Languages (based on A. I. R. news-bulletins and daily newspapers);
(ii) A Hindi-English Dictionary of common words containing about 7,000 words with Roman transliteration;
(iii) Shabdarth Mimansa, a dictionary of Hindi synonyms containing over 350 word-groups;
(iv) `Prachin Charit Kosh' published by Charit Kosh Mandal, Poona with the financial assistance from this Ministry and technical guidance of the Central Hindi Directorate.
25.1. Hindi version of Apte's "Sanskrit-English Dictionary" and Hindi edition of "Bhartiya Sanskriti Kosh" are being published through private publishers with the financial assistance from this Ministry and technical guidance of the Central Hindi Directorate.
25.2. Proposals for compilation of bilingual dictionaries with Hindi as one of the languages, preparation of encyclopaedias and dictionaries are under consideration. Preparation of definitional elementary dictionaries of technical Hindi terms in Physics, Botany, Mathematics, Chemistry is in hand.
26. Subject-wise Manuals.-Writing of standard manuals was initiated to popularise terminology evolved by the Government of India. Five manuals have been published so far. One is under print.
27. Hindi Shorthand.-In order to evolve a standard system of Shorthand suited to the genius of Hindi and regional languages, it was decided in 1957 to take up Morpho-Phonemic analysis of Hindi and ten regional languages. The analysis in respect of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Kannada has been completed. Steps are being taken to evolve a standard system of shorthand for Hindi on the basis of the results of this analysis and taking into account the existing systems of Hindi Shorthand.
28. Basic Hindi Grammar.-Revised edition of a Basic Hindi Grammar in English was published by this Ministry in 1960; its Hindi version is under preparation.