DEVELOPMENT OF HINDI
The eleventh meeting of the Hindi Shiksha Samiti, appointed to help and advise the Government of India for propagation and development of Hindi, was held on July 11, 1958. The important recommendations made at this meeting are :-
(i) A Reviewing Committee under the chairmanship of Shri R. D. Sinha Dinkar, M.P., with Shri Sri Narayan Chaturvedi, Dr. Yudhvir Singh, Prof. A. Chandrahasan and Dr. R. D. Sharma as 'members may be appointed. to finalise the question of recognition of Hindi examina- tions conducted by the Hindi organisations in the country.
(ii) Hindi Teachers' Training colleges should be established in non-Hindi speaking States through State, Governments or voluntary Hindi organisations.
(iii) The Akhil Bhartiya Hindi Mahavidyalya, Agra, at present engaged in the training of Hindi teachers from non-Hindi speaking States, should be reorganised on the lines of the Central Institute of English at Hyderabad so as to provide facilities both for research into Hindi and training of Hindi teachers on scientific lines.
(iv) The question of the reform of Devanagari script should be finalised as early as possible.
Action on these recommendations has been taken as indicated subsequently under proper sub-headings.
Progress in respect of Plan schemes carrie dover from the First Five-Year Plan has been made as follows :-
(i) Payment of Grants to Hindi Organisations, and Individuals etc.-The following grants have been sanctioned during the year under review :-
Name of the Organisation Purpose of Grant Amount
Rs.
Shri Ram Chandra Verma, Sahitya Compilation of 'SHABDA SADHNA' 5,500
Ratnamala Karyalaya, Banaras
Akhil Bhartiya Hindi Parishad, Agra Training of Hindi teachers from 67,580
non-Hindi speaking States
All India Hindi Publishers' Association, Holding of Seminar on Book- 800
Delhi trading and Publishing
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Name of the Organisation Purpose of Grant Amount
Rs.
Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi Search of old manuscripts, 10,000
purchase of photostat machine,
preserving, housing and bind-
ing of old manuscripts
Sahityakar Sansad, Allahabad Publication of Sanskrit Sahitya 2,700
ki Bhumika
(ii) Hindi Encyclopaedia.-The work of preparing a ten- volume Encyclopaedia in Hindi at a total cost of Rs. 6.5 lakhs was entrusted to the Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi in 1956. The details of the scheme were worked out by a Sub-Committee of Experts and a highpowered Advisory Board was set up to supervise the work. This Board appointed an editorial committee to prepare the Encyclopaedia. Each volume of this work will consist of about 500 pages. So far Rs. 1,20,000 have been paid to the Sabha for this work. A nucleus staff including two Associate Editors has been appointed and the preliminary work of preparing word-index of topical terms and important works was started in February, 1957. The question of filling the post of the Chief Editor for the Encyclopaedia is under consideration of the Sabha. Out of 70,000 words provisionally collected from published works of reference, 40,000 words covering various aspects of knowledge in the fields of science, arts and humanities have been finally selected for rendering into Hindi and distribution among scholars for the preparation of material for the volUmes of the Encyclopaedia.
The classification of subjects has been completed and about one-fourth of the total number of entries have been rendered into Hindi. A list of fifty Contributory Editors and about a thousand contributors has been drawn up and approved by the Advisory Board. Several thousands of topics have been distributed amongst the contributors. The material for the first volume of the Encyclopaedia is ready and will be sent for printing shortly.
(iii) Preparation of Manuals on the basis of Terminologies evolved.-Standard manuals relating to Botany and Chemistry have been finalised and are under print. Manual on Physics is also nearing finalisation and it is expected to be sent for printing shortly. In addition to these, manuals relating to Agriculture, Civics, Commerce, Economics, Education (General), Educational
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Psychology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine and Zoology are under preparation.
(iv) Grants to States.-Consequent on the introduction of revised procedure for payment of grants to the State Governments on Plan schemes, the Central assistance under this scheme is being released to the State Govern- ments by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs in the shape of "ways and means advances". Final sanctions on the basis of amount spent by the State Governments concerned will be issued during the last quarter of the year. It is expected that grants totalling about Rs. 5.00 lakhs will be sanctioned to the various non-Hindi speaking State Governments for promotion of Hindi during 1958-59.
An expenditure of Rs. 48,000 has, however, been sanctioned for promotion of Hindi in the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manipur and Tripura during 1958-59.
The progress made in respect of schemes included in the Second Five-Year Plan is as indicated below :-
(1) Preparation of Terminological Indexes, of all Standard Hindi Works-Old and New.-This Scheme envisages the preparation of terminological indexes verborum of fourteen Hindi works in the first instance. The work has been entrusted to various universities in India. The Universities of Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Delhi, Madras, Patna, Punjab and Saugor have been sanctioned initial grants totalling Rs. 15,025 for starting the work on twelve works entrusted to them. Further grants will be made available to these universities as and when requests are received from them. Proposals in respect of the remaining two works have been received from. the University of Calcutta, and are under examination.
(2) Collection of Indexing of special Vocabularies on Arts and Crafts with the help of existing literature and actual field work. It was decided to collect the material in three subjects, viz., Textile, Fishery and Metal Works, in the first instance. The State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, Madras, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, in whose jurisdiction the centres of the said arts and crafts are situated, were requested in September, 1958 to depute competent persons for collecting necessary material with the help of actual field work. The negotiations are stil going on with the State Governments concerned.
(3) Investigation of Terminological Material in old Literature.- Dr. Satya Prakash, Dr. Gorakh Prasad, Shri R. N. Misra, Dr. Nath Vidyalankar, Shri Duni Chandra and Prof. Syed Ahmed were
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requested to undertake the work of collection of terminological mate- rials in Chemistry, Mathematics, Transport and Ship-building, Econo- mics (Banking and Trade), Diplomacy and Engineering and Architecture respectively. The required material has been received from all except Dr. Gorakh Prasad and Prof. Syed Ahmed.
(4) Publishing.Revised and Critical Editions of Standard Hindi Works now out-of-print.-This scheme envisages the preparation of thirteen works in the first instance. These have been entrusted to various universities and scholars. The University of Allahabad has been sanctioned an initial grant of Rs. 5,000 for the work entrusted to it. Necessary funds will be made available to other universities and scholars as and when their plans of work and estimates of expenditure have been approved by the Government of India.
(5) Publication of Omnibus Volumes of the Works of Eminent Hindi Writers.-This scheme envisages. the preparation of sixteen works in the. first instance'. These, have been entrusted to various scholars and universities. The Universities of Agra, Lucknow and Saugor and Dr. Faiyaz Ali Khan have been sanctioned initial grants totalling Rs. 10,665 for the works entrusted to them. Necessary funds will be made available to other scholars as and when their plans of work and estimates of expenditure have been received and approved by the Government of India.
(6) Organisation of Debating Teams of Schools and Colleges from non-Hindi speaking areas to Hindi speaking areas and vice-versa.-The details of the/scheme have been finalised and circulated to the State Governments concerned. So far three debating teams two senior teams from Kerala and Utkal Universities and one junior team from Kerala have been selected. Expenditure sanctions for organising these teams have been issued.
(7) Organisation of Lecture-tours by prominent Hindi Scholars and Writers from Hindi speaking areas to non-Hindi speaking areas and vice-versa.-Three lecture tours by Sarvashri Guru Nath Joshi, V. Ramamurthy Renu and Upendra Nath Ashak in Bihar, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh respectively were organised. A few more lecture tours are likely to be arranged during 1958-59.
(8) Holding of Seminars of Hindi Teachers of non-Hindi speaking areas in Hindi speaking areas.-A Seminar of Hindi teachers from the various non-Hindi speaking States was held at Patna in June, 1958. The Seminar proved a success and was of a great educative value for the participating teachers.
(9) Prizes on Hindi Books of Outstanding Merit.-This scheme had been in operation since 1952-53, but was included in the Second Five- Year Plan only in 1957-58. Two contests had already been held
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in the earlier years for the award of prizes on books published up to 1954. Under the third contest held for the award of prizes on books published in the year 1955, seven prizes have been announced and the announcement of another. seven prizes is under consideration..
(10) Preparation of Histories of Sciences, Encyclopaedia of Indian Mythology and Dictionary of Indian Phrases and Fables.-The preliminary details of the scheme have been finalised and action for the preparation of various works under this scheme will be started shortly.
(11) Appointment of Hindi Teachers in non-Hindi speaking States.- The scheme envisages the appointment of at least one Hindi teacher in each Higher Secondary school in the non-Hindi speaking States. Consequent on the introduction of the revised procedure for payment of grants to the State Governments under Centrally sponsored Schemes, Central assistance under this scheme is being released to the State Governments by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs in the shape of "ways and means advances". Final sanctions on the basis of amount spent by the State Governments concerned will be issued during the last quarter of the financial year. It is expected that grants totalling about Rs. 2.50 lakhs will be sanctioned to the non-Hindi speaking State Governments during the current financial year for appointment of Hindi teachers in their schools under this scheme. However, an expenditure of Rs. 28,811 has been sanctioned for appointment of Hindi teachers in the Union Territories of Manipur and Tripura during the current financial year.
The progress, of non-Plan schemes is as follows :-
(1) Technical Terminology.-During the year, 23 Expert Committees on different subjects functioned under the Board of Scientific Terminology.
The lists of technical terms in Hindi on the following subjects have been finalised, and are available for sale at the Casual Sales Depot of the Ministry of Education, and the Manager of Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi :-
1. Agriculture-I 8. Economics-I
2. Botany-I 9. Engineering-I (Building Mater-
ials)
3. Chemistry-I 10. General Administration
(Designations)
4. Chemistry-II 11. Mathematics-I
5. Defence-I 12. Physics-I
6. Defence-II 13. Posts & Telegraphs
7. Diplomacy 14. Social Sciences
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Finalised lists on the following subjects have been sent to the press :-
1. Agriculture-II 8. Medicine-I
2. Broadcasting-I 9. Medicine-II
3. Defence-V 10. Overseas Communication
Service
4. Economics-II 11. Posts & Telegraphs
5. General Administra- 12. Railways (General Traffic
tion (General Terms) Terms)
6. Highway Engineering 13. Tourism
7. Mathematics-II 14. Zoology
Provisional lists on the following subjects have been revised and will be submitted.for approval to the Board of Scientific Terminology for approval :-
1. Botany-II
2. Defence-III
3. Defence-IV
4. Diplomacy-II
5. Economics (Labour Economics)
6. Education (General Terms)
7. Engineering (Irrigation and Hydro-electric Engineering)
8. Posts and Telegraphs (Stamps and Seals)
9. Transport (Shipping)
The following Provisional lists have been published and circulat- ed to various universities, Ministries and State Governments, Research institutions and other important organisations for comments :-
1. Agriculture-III 8. Education Psychology
2. Botany-III 9. Meteorology
3. Chemistry-III 10. Law-I
4. Chemistry-II 11. Law-II
5. Defence-VI 12. Physics-I
6. Defence-VII 13. Mathematics-IV
7. Economics-IV 14. Zoology-II
Up to 31st December, 1958, about 1,40,000 terms in different sub- jects have been evolved, out of which 33,600 terms have been finally
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approved by the Government of India, while 7,298 terms have been submitted to the Cabinet and are awaiting its approval.
A Dictionary Unit has been set up in the Hindi Division of the, Ministry for preparing a dictionary of scientific and technical terms evolved by the Board of Scientific Terminology. One General Editor and six Editors have already been appointed in addition to other staff in junior posts. Work has actually started during the period under report.
(2) Basic Hindi Grammar.-The English version of the Basic Grammar of Modern Hindi has been brought out. It has been circulated to various State Governments, universities and institutions etc. for comments.
(3) Recognition of Hindi Examinations.-The question of recogni- tion of Hindi examinations conducted by various private Hindi organisations in the country is under consideration. A Recognition Committee has been set up for this purpose. The Committee at its meeting held on 16th and 17th May, 1958 considered applications received from 22 Hindi organisations. The recommendations made by the Committee were considered by the Hindi Shiksha Samiti? which set up a Reviewing Committee to review the recommendations made by the Recognition Committee, by making on-the-spot inspection of the organisations concerned. The Reviewing Committee has submitted its report. It will be placed before the Hindi Shiksha Samiti at its forthcoming meeting for final advice.
(4) Reform in Devanagari Script.-In January, 1955 the Government of India accepted the recommendations made by the Devanagari Script Reform Conference held at Lucknow in November, 1953. In 1957 the Government of Uttar Pradesh convened another Conference at Lucknow to consider the question further in the light of experience gained in the working of modified script. The 1957 Conference accepted the recommendations of the earlier conference, with the following modifications :-
1. The matra of short should be placed to the left of the consonant to which it is attached;
2. All the three forms of (T) Should be used when it is joined with other letters, and
3. Compound letters should be formed by dropping the vertical line where possible.
The modifications suggested- by the latter Conference are under consideration of the Government of India.
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(5) Key-Board for Hindi Typewriter and Teleprinter.-The printing of the Report of the Hindi Typewriter and Teleprinter Committee with regard to the finalisation of a key-board for the Hindi, typewriter and teleprinter has been withheld pending Finalisation of the question of reform in Devanagari script.
(6) Hindi Shorthand.-The work of carrying out morpho-phonemic analysis of Hindi and various regional languages is expected to, be completed by 1960. Thereafter, the matter will be placed before the Hindi Shorthand Committee for evolving a suitable system of Hindi shorthand.
(7) Opening of Hindi Teachers' Training College.-To provide adequate number of trained and efficient Hindi teachers in the non- Hindi speaking States it has been decided to open Hindi Teachers' .Training Colleges on zonal basis, the entire expenditure of which will be borne by the Government of India. To start with, a Training college is proposed to be set up in Kerala to meet its requirements for trained Hindi teachers. The requirements of other States for such colleges are also being ascertained.