PROMOTION OF LANGUAGES
11.1.0 Language being the most important medium of communication and education, their development occupies an important place in the National Policy on Education and Programme of Action. Promotion and development of Hindi and other languages listed in the VIII Schedule of the Constitution viz., Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani Malyalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu on the one hand and English and other foreign languages on the other hand received due attention. In fulfilling the constitutional obligation the Department of Education undertook various programmes through its languages Institutes, autonomous organisations and subordinate offices, namely, Kendriya Hindi Shikshan Mandal, Agra with its seven Centres, Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, with its four regional centres, one Extension Centre and two Urdu Training and Research Centres, Central Hindi Directorate (CHD), New Delhi, Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) New Delhi and Bureau for Promotion of Urdu (BPU).
Central Hindi Directorate 11.2.1 The Directorate is compiling thirteen Hindi based and thirteen regional languages based bilingual dictionaries. So far thirteen dictionaries viz. Hindi-Assamese, Hindi-Gujarati, Hindi -Kashmiri, Hindi-Marathi, Hindi-Malayalam, Hindi-Oriya, Hindi-Sindhi, Hindi-Tamil, Hindi-Telugu, Hindi-Urdu. Hindi and Urdu-Hindi dictionaries have been published. The Directorate has brought out thirteen trilingual dictionaries, while twelve Hindi based and twelve regional languages based trilingual dictionaries are being compiled. The Directorate has also published one multilingual dictionary and the Tatsam Word Dictionary' besides compiling "Bhartiya Bhasha Parichay Kosh". Under Cultural Exchange Programme, Czech-Hindi and German- Hindi dictionaries have been published. Under the UN Languages Dicti- onaries-Programme, Hindi-Chinese, Hindi Arabic, Hindi-French, and Hindi-Spanish dictionaries have been published. A Consolidated Hindi- based dictionary of U.N. Languages Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish is under compilation. Besides these, Hindi- Kashmiri, and Hindi-Assamese conversational guides have been published. Work on one trilingual and two bilingual dictionaries is in an advanced stage. A project for preparation of bilingual dictionaries of Hindi and languages of neighbouring countries has been undertaken. Out of ten such dictionaries, Hindi-Persian, Hindi- Singhalese and Hindi Indonesian are ready for printing. A conversational guide of Russian-Hindi has also been sent for printing and work on Hindi-Nepali, Hindi-Burmese and Hindi-Bhutani is being undertaken.
11.2.2 The Directorate also brings out Hindi journals like "Unesco Doot" Hindi version of English Magazine entitled "Unesco Courier", "Bhasha" (bimonthly) "Varshiki", (Annual survey magazine ) and a few books under Sahitayamala Scheme.
11.2.3 The Directorate is implementing a scheme of teaching Hindi through Correspondence Courses in the media of English, Tamil, Malayalam and Bangla. So far approx 3.15 lakhs persons have availed of this facility. The enrolement in these courses during the current year is around 10,186. Some self-teaching, records and cassettes have also been prepared for the purpose. 16 Personal, Contact Programmes have also been organised for removing the difficulties of the students. A Video Cassette for Hindi teaching is also being prepared.
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11.2.4 The Directorate has organised two Study Tours of Non-Hindi Speaking areas' universities students of Hindi Language and literature to Hindi speaking areas' Universities, and selected twenty research students of non-Hindi-Speaking areas for research purpose. Eight Neo- writers Workshops have been organised to encourage non-Hindi writers to write in Hindi during the Year under report. Two national symposiums were also organised to discuss various aspects of oneness of Indian literature. Eight scholars, (four from Hindi speaking areas to give lectures on students' interest subjects in non-Hindi speaking areas' universities and four non Hindi speaking zones to give lectures on students' interest subjects in Hindi-speaking areas' Universities) were nominated by Central Hindi Directorate.
11.2.5 To encourage Hindi Writers whose mother-tongue is not Hindi, 19 awards are given to such writers. Besides , one book entitled "Paryavaran Shiksha" by Shri Hari Shankar Vyas was selected for Shiksha Puruskar (Award for books originally written in Hindi on educational subjects).
11.2.6 A number of books have been sent free of cost to libraries in the non-Hindi States for propagation of Hindi. Exhibition of Hindi Books is another activity of the Directorate. The Directorate is also conducting a survey of the spoken form of official language in various units of Central Government spread over the country. The scheme has been divided into two phases. In most of the Hindi speaking States this survey has been completed.
11.2.7 Financial Assistance was provided to about 200 Voluntary Organisations, and individuals for promotion and development of Hindi for undertaking activities such as Hindi teaching Class/typewriting/shorthand/publications etc.
Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology 11.3.1 The Commission for Scientific & Technical Terminology was set up in October, 1961 for evaluation of Scientific and Technical Terminology in Hindi and other Indian languages, production of university level books and reference literature in all disciplines, identification of pan-Indian Terminology, setting up a national terminology bank and organising terminology orientation workshops to facilitate smooth change over of media of instruction in universities.
Technical Terminology 11.3.2 The Commission has so far evolved and published 5.5 lakhs Scientific and Technical terms of various disciplines. Recently terminology of Veterinary Science, Metallurgical Science, Electronics and some special branches of Engineering has been evolved.
Departmental Terminology 11.3.3 The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology also caters to the needs of various departments of Government by providing them Hindi equivalents for the specialised technical terms concerning their respective departments. The Commission has published a "Comprehensive Glossary of Adminstrative Terms" (English-Hindi and Hindi-English)' which is being distributed free of cost to all desirous officers with a view to enable the employees to do their day to day work through the official language more effectively.
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Definitional Dictionaries 11.3.4 The CSTT has brought out 50 Definitional Dictionaries which contains definitions in Hindi of Science & Technical terms already evolved by the Commission. These Definitional Dictionaries cover almost basic Sciences, Social Science and Humanities and specialised subjects like Archaeology and International Law. Definitional Dictionaries of specialised subjects like Microbiology, Linguistics, Metallurgy, Cell-Biology, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Cytogenetics etc. are under various stages of preparation.
11.3.5 There is a scheme for production of the dictionaries of latest branches of basic sciences, social sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Engineering in the near future.
Pan-Indian Terminology 11.3.6 So far 10 Pan Indian Glossaries have been published for free distribution.
University Level Book Production 11.3.7 The CSTT has brought out in collaboration with Hindi Granth Akademies/State Textbook Boards/University Cells, 11,635 university level books in Hindi & regional languages. The Commission has also produced 394 books in the field of Engineering, Medicines and Agriculture. The CSTT also brings out a quarterly journal 'Vigyan Garima Sindhu'.
Terminology Orientation Workshop 11.3.8 With a view to promoting and popularising appropriate use of the terminology, the CSTT organised workshops for university/college teachers in diverse disciplines. Annually 12-15 of such workshops are organised. So far 47 such workshops have been organised.
Computer based National Terminology Bank 11.3.9 A Computer based national terminology bank has been established by the Commission of Scientific and Technical Terminology with a view to modernizing the process of the lexicography and facilitating instant dissemination of updated technical terms to the users of the technical terms that are to form the database. About 2.5 lakhs terms have already been keyed in, while computerization of the remaining terminology is in progress. The system has the facility (i) to update, add, delete, modify and retrieve any terms in the data-base (ii) to instantly sort out the terms both in English and Hindi in alphabetical order, which enables simultaneously publication of English-Hindi and Hindi-English editions of glossaries (iii) to obtain the terminology subject-wise as well as in a consolidated form (iv) to instantly obtain laser print outs in a finalised form, with a built-in device for column , page numbers and folio formation and (v) to obtain technical equivalents not only in Hindi but also in other Indian languages in their own scripts as well as in Devnagari.
Propagation of Hindi Abroad 11.4.0 This Scheme was started in the Fourth Five Year Plan with the objective to promote and propagate Hindi abroad. The Scheme has been continuing in the Eighth Plan also. The Specific programmes/activites under the scheme are (i) Award of Scholarship to
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about 50 foreign students for study of Hindi in India for a period of one Year (ii) supply of Hindi books and other equipment for propagation of Hindi to Indian Missions abroad (iii) Deputation of Hindi teachers to Surinam, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago; (iv) Appointment of Hindi Librarian and part-time Hindi Lecturers in the Embassy of India, Kathmandu and High Commission of India, Sri Lanka. The foreign students are provided with the scholarships (a Rs. 1200/- p.m. and book grant of Rs. 400/- per annum respectively. The programme of teaching Hindi to foreign students is being conducted at the headquarters of the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan at Agra.
Kendriya Hindi Shikshan Mandal, Agra 11.5.1 The Kendriya Hindi Shikhsan Mandal, Agra is an autonomous organisation established by the Government of India, under overall administrative control of MHRD (Department of Education). The Mandal runs Kendriya Hindi Sansthan under its aegis, with its Head-Quarters at Agra and centres at Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore, Guwahati and Shillong. The Sansthan is recognised as an Advanced Centre for teaching, training and research in Hindi as second/foreign language and also for applied Hindi linguistics and Functional Hindi.
11.5.2 For inservice training of Hindi teachers of non-Hindi speaking states, the Sansthan runs Hindi Shikshan Nishant (M.Ed. level), Hindi Shikshan Parangat (B.Ed. level), Hindi Shikshan Praveen, Four-Year Hindi Shikshak Diploma and Intensive Hindi Teaching-cum- Training Course. During the session 129 inservice Hindi teachers were trained. Hindi Shikshan Parangat course is conducted through correspondence also, in which 350 inservice teachers are admitted during the session.
11.5.3 The Sansthan also runs courses for teaching Hindi to foreigners at Agra under the scheme of "Propagation of Hindi Abroad". During the session the Government of India has awarded scholarships to 29 students from various foreign countries. A Composite Hindi Course for foreigners is also conducted at Delhi Centre in which 50 foreign students are studying. Apart from this 3 course of applied Hindi linguistics and translation are also conducted at Delhi Centre. During the session 125 students are studying in these course.
11.5.4 On request of the Government of Goa, two Workshops were organised to produce, standardize and validate the press copy of "Gomantak Hindi Bharati", first book of Hindi for class Vth students. National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development made a request to the Sansthan to prepare a Hindi course based on distance teaching module for their officials. The Sansthan prepared a Foundation Course of Distance Hindi Teaching Module during the session. Under a special programme, the Sansthan trained 32 teachers of different Universities/Colleges in the area of Functional Hindi at the instance of the University Grants Commission. Work for the preparation of Hindi grammar books and bilingual dictionaries for tribal students of Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Manipur states is under progress. In addition, the research projects "Socio- linguistic survey of Industrial Units: in special context of Hindi", and "Computer based Hindi Teaching to Foreign Students" are under progress.
11.5.5 Under the scheme entitled "Hindi Sevi Samman Yojana" 13 eminent Hindi Scholars have been awarded during the session for their distinguished contribution in the field of development and propagation of Hindi, Hindi journalism, research and creatives in Hindi, scientific and technical Hindi literature etc.
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Central Institute of Indian Languages and Regional Language Centres
11.6.1 The Central Institute of Indian languages, Mysore was established in 1969 to help evolve and implement the Language Policy of the Government of India and coordinate the development of Indian languages. The Institute is also charged with the responsibility of conducting research in the areas of Languages Analysis, Language Pedagogy, Language Technology and Language use in Society, Government and Education with a bias towards problem solving and National Integration. The Institute is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education.
11.6.2 The Institute has two major schemes viz., the Development of Indian Languages through Research, Training, Material Production and Training of Teachers in Modern Indian Languages for the implementation of 3-Language formula.
11.6.3 The Institute is also a nodal agency for training of teachers to be appointed by the Hindi states under the scheme of Financial Assistance for Appointment of Modern Indian Language Teachers.
11.6.4 The Institute is also administering since 1994-95 a scheme of financial assistance to voluntary organisations and individuals, holding copyright, for selected activities including publication/purchase for the promotion of modern Indian Languages.
11.6.5 The major works done by the Institute during the Year are as follows :
1. The Institute has taken up the study of endangered languages: Kurumban, Indiawe, Kuruchian and Parengi in collaboration with Annamalai and Telugu Universities. The descriptive study of HMAR, a semiotic study of Jenu Kuruba have been completed. The Data Bank on Acoustic Phonetics is augumented by adding data of more languages.
2. The monographs of India through Proverbs, Nursery Rhymes in Kashmiri and Dogri, Administrative Konkani Reader, Konkani Nursery Rhymes, Manipuri Fictional Glossary are produced.
3. The Audio Script in Nepali pronunciation is produced.
4. The reports on reading problems, silent and oral reading norms of middle school students of first and second languages are completed.
5. The Indian scripts utility and work processing software dhadha produced by the Institute in the previous year, is updated with the addition of Oriya, Bengali and Gujarati.
6. Through the Distance Education the Institution conducts Certificate Course in Bengali, Tamil, Telugu.
7. Under the scheme of Appointment of Teachers of Modern Indian Languages, the States of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have accepted the scheme. The states of Delhi and Rajasthan are also expected to send the proposal.
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Taraqui - E - Urdu Board 11.7.1 Taraqui-e-Urdu Board was constituted in 1969 as an Apex Advisory Body to the Government on promotion and development of Urdu language. The Bureau for promotion of Urdu a sub-ordinate office of the Department is the Secretariat to the Board and implements recommendations of the Board. The Government has constituted the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language NCPUL as an autonomous body to replace the Taraqui e- Urdu Board with a view to further broad basing Urdu promotional activities. With the operationalisation of the Council, the BPU has ceased to exist.
11.7.2 The BPU was engaged in preparation of academic lecture in Urdu and making them available to the Urdu speaking people of the country. Three Calligraphy Training Centres, were set up this year making a total of 47 such Centres. Out of the 12 volumes of Urdu Encyclopaedia planned to be published, the first 4 volumes have been calligraphed and proof read. The first two volumes are in the press and are expected to be published during this year. Pictorial glossary in Urdu and Hindi with 1296 pictures has been published. Third and fourth volume of Urdu and English dictionary are in the Press. BPU has translated one full set of books from 1st to 10th standard for NCERT.
National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language 11.8.0 The Government has constituted the National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language as an autonomous body with its Headquarters at Vadodara for promotion and development of Sindhi Language. The former Minister for Human Resource Development was the Chairman of the Council.
11.8.0 Several programmes for development of Sindhi Language were assisted during the Year by the Sindhi Unit of Central Hindi Directorate.
Improvement of English Language Teaching 11.9.0 In order to bring about substantial improvement in the standards of teaching/learning of English, assistance is provided through the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL), Hyderabad for setting up of at least one district centre for English language in each State. Twenty six District Centres were initially sanctioned out of which 8 are functioning in different parts of the country. The Government is also providing assistance to Regional Institutes of English and English Language Teaching Institutes in different States through the CIEFL for strengthening them. There are at present two Regional Institutes of English and eleven English Language Teaching Institutes.