 DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGES

8.01. Article 351 of the Constitution vests the Union Government with the responsibility of enriching, developing and promoting Hindi so that it may serve as a medium of expression for the diverse elements of our composite culture. The democratic aspirations of the people of a multilingual country like India, the integration of the country's various components on a national scale and in this context, the progress of education itself, in an age of scientific and technological advance, make it imperative that all the major Indian languages should be enriched and developed in the right direction. It was in this context that on 18th January 1968 the following Government Resolution was adopted by both Houses of Parliament:

"Whereas the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution specifies 14 major languages of India besides Hindi and it is necessary in the interest of the educational and cultural advancement of the country that concerted measures should be taken for the full development of these languages;

"This House resolves that a programme shall be prepared and implemented by the Government of India, in collaboration with the State Governments for the co- ordinated development of all these languages, alongside Hindi so that they grow rapidly in richness and become effective means of communicating modern knowledge."

To give effect to the directive contained in the above Par- liamentary Resolution, and the decision to switch progressively

to regional languages as media of instruction at the stage of higher education entail massive book production programmes in Indian languages. To realise these objectives several significant programmes have been launched by the Ministry, a brief account of which is given in the various sections of this chapter.

A: PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HINDI

8.02. The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT),

New Delhi, has been engaged in the work of evolving terminology. It has so far completed the work on evolving terminology in almost all the subjects, exceput engineering, economic and defence science although the finalisation of terms in a number of subjects has yet to be accomplished. A broad based and permanent "Continuing Terminology Unit" is proposed to be created to continue work in some new and growing branches of subjects and to meet the continuous terminological needs of various departments and universities.

8.03. Glossaries, Manuals and Dictionaries:

During the period under review, the CSTT brought out two new glossaries (1) Humanities V (Linguistics); and (2) Engineering-IV (Electrical and Mechanical) and published a Manual of Physical Geography. In view of the decision to complete terminological work early, all work on definitional dictionaries was stopped during the year. This will, however, be taken up after the completion of terminology work.

8.04. The Central Hindi Directorate (CHD)

, New Delhi, is also pursuing a few dictionary projects. With the concurrence of the Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance, a new scheme for the preparation of trilingual dictionaries(Hindi-English-Regional Language-) has been finalised in October, 1969. Under it, the CHD will prepare, to start with, trilingual dictionaries in Kannada, Malayalam Tamil and Telugu with Hindi as the base language. Work an the following dictionaries/glossaries has already been undertaken by the CHD: (i) Dictionary of Hindi Usage: (ii) revised editions of bilingual

glossaries of words common to Hindi and other regional languages; and (iii) revised and enlarged editions of Vyvaharic Hindi- English Shabdkosh. The preparation of an Etymological Dictionary was entrusted to the Saugar Univac. Work on Dictionary was entrusted to the Saugar University. Work on Publishing a Marathi-Hindi dictionary entrusted to the Maharashtra Rashtrabhasha Prachar sabha, poona with a grant of Rs. 12,500 is in progress. Mention may also be made of a 12-volume Hindi Encyclopaedia being brought out by the Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi with a grant from the Ministry. Eleven volumes have already been published, and the twelfth is nearing completion.

8.05. Translation of Office Manuals, Codes and Other Procedural Literature of the Government of India:

During the year, nearly 23,000 pages were received by the CHD from various Ministries/Departments of the Union Government for translation, out of which 12,000 pages were translated and returned, while work on the remaining is in progress.

8.06. Magazines and Journals:

The following three journals are brought out by the CHD and CSTT to promote and propagate Hindi: (i) Bhasha quarterly devoted to problems of language and literature, by the CHD; (ii) Hindi Samachar Jagat a monthly news journal to disseminate in formation relation relating to the progressive use of Hindi For official purposes as well as the progress made in regard to the propagation, development and enrichment of Hindi , by the CHD; and (iii) Vidya devoted to a review of literature at the university level and discussion on problems in the field, by the CSTT.

8.07. Free Gift of Hindi Books:

Against the Target of 300 titles on literary and general inters involving nearly 1.50,000 copies, 262 tiles involving 60,000 copies wepe purchased for

distribution to schools, colleges and public libraries in non-Hindi speaking States, involving an expenditure of Rs. 1,35,000 under the scheme operated by the CHD.

8.08. Hindi Information Centre:

A Hindi Information Centre was set up in the Central Hindi Directorate in 1966 to provide authentic information pertaining to various aspects of Hindi language and literature. A telephone service to provide promptly Hindi equivalents of technical terms to the general public and Government offices was started in October, 1968.

8.09. Correspondence Courses for Teaching Hindi to Non-Hindi Speaking People and Foreigners:

Three correspondence courses are conducted by the Central Hindi Directorate for teaching Hindi. Personal contact programmes to impart additional training in pronunciation and conversation as well as to solve grammatical problems are also arranged at different centers in India. So far six such programmes have been arranged by the Directorate, one each at Calcutta, Bangalore, Ernakulam, Calicut, Madras and Bombay.

8.10. Appointment of Hindi Teachers:

Under this scheme financial assistance is given on a 100 per cent basis to the Governments of non-Hindi speaking States for the appointment of Hindi teachers at the higher primary, high and higher secondary stage for teaching Hindi. The teachers appointed up to the end of the Third Plan became the liability of the State Governments concerned. Assistance is now given only in respect of the teachers who have been appointed in 1966-67 and continued thereafter. Nearly 5,200 such teachers in higher primary, high and higher secondary schools are at present in position.

8.11. Establishment of Hindi Teacher Training Colleges in Non- Hindi Speaking States:

Under this scheme the Ministry extends financial assistance on a 100 per cent basis to State Governments for the establishment of Hindi teacher training colleges in non-Hindi speaking States so that adequate number

of trained teachers are available for teaching Hindi in high and higher secondary schools. This scheme is also continuing from the Second Plan. It has been decided that the Hindi teacher training colleges established during the Second Plan period and continued in the Third Plan will also continue to receive financial. assistance from the Union Government till the end of the Fourth Plan.

8.12. Kendriya Hindi Shikshana Mandal, Agra:

Set up in 1960, this institution at present offers two Hindi teachers training courses, namely, Nishnat and Parangat. In the 1969-70 session the Mandal admitted 171 students from various non-Hindi speaking States for the training courses. The Mandal also arranges a refresher course in India for Hindi teachers and lecturers of non-Hindi speaking States and one such course was held in December 1969, attended by 37 students. The Mandal, under the Fourth Plan, will be implementing a few more schemes like (a) development of methodology of teaching Hindi for different linguistic regions; (b) research for evolving a method of teaching Hindi whereby a person could acquire a working knowledge of Hindi in a comparatively shorter period of six to eight months; (c) a compressed course for giving training to Hindi knowing trained teachers of non-Hindi speaking States; (d) a comprehensive course for such foreigners as receive scholarships and grants for the study of Hindi in India; and (e) production of gramophone records, tapes for Hindi speech, grammar and select recitation. It further proposes to start shortly an intensive three/four-month Hindi training course for class I officers of the Government of India. It is also proposed to give financial assistance to the various non-Hindi speaking States for organizing State-level seminars, refresher courses, etc., for their Hindi This decision, which was taken at the last meeting of the Hindi Shiksha Samiti, has been communicated to the State Governments concerned and the expenditure incurred by them in this behalf will be reimbursed.

8.13. Financial Assistance to Voluntary Organisations:

Out of the provision of Rs. 14,00,000 for this scheme for

1969-70, a sum of Rs. 4,00,000 was sanctioned, till the end of February, 1970 to nearly 100 voluntary organizations for holding free Hindi classes and other Hindi propagational activities in non-Hindi speaking States. This amount represents One, fourth of the grant approved for payment to these organisations during 1969-70. The second instalment amounting to three fourth of the grant was likely to be released before the close of the year.

8.14. Hindi Shiksha Samiti:

The Hindi Shiksha Samiti advises the Government on matters relating to the propagation and development of Hindi. To keep a Proper watch over the programmes and to follow up systematically the implementation of the various schemes a karyakarini Upsamiti consisting of 15 members was set up in place of the three Standing Committees of the Hindi Shiksha Samiti. The Hindi Shiksha Samiti and the Upsamiti each held two meetings during 1969. Another meeting of the Upsamiti was likely to be held in February, 1970.

B: PROMOTION OF SANSKRIT

8.15. Kendriya Sanskrit Parishad:

In pursuance of a de- cision to set up a Sanskrit advisory body with a broader base having due representation from the various State Governments and the various agencies engaged in the propagation and development of Sanskrit, the Ministry has set up the Kendriya Sanskrit Parishad and abolished the Central Sanskrit Board with effect from December 24 1969.

8.16. Financial Assistance:

Based on the recommendations made by the Sanskrit Commission a number of schemes for the promotion of Sanskrit are implemented by the Ministry. These, among others, include financial assistance to voluntary Sanskrit organisations, Gurukulas, Sanskrit journals and eminent Sanskrit pandits in indigent circumstances. Grants to the Gurukulas are given towards their maintenance and for awarding stipends to students. Grants to Sanskrit journals ate designed to bring about the about the needed improvement in their form, content and quality. For financial assistance to Sanskrit pandits, grants are released to State Governments/Union Administrations.

8.17. Sanskrit Literature:

This includes reprinting impor- tant out-of-print Sanskrit classics and preparation of Shastrik and bilingual dictionaries. 230 books bearing on Sanskrit Ianguage and literature were purchased during the year for free distribution among educational institutions. 20 Sanskrit publications were brought out during the period by individuals and organizations with the financial assistance provided by the Ministry. An important out-of-print book, namely, Kathasarit Sagar was got printed through private publishers.

8.18. Sanskrit Dictionary:

The Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Poona, continued to make progress on the project of compiling a Sanskrit-English dictionary based on historical principles for which financial assistance has been given by the Ministry. As was decided by the Review Committee, the first two stages of the project, namely, extraction, of vacables and the completion of scriptorium would be completed by September, 1971. The preparation of the press copy, is scheduled for completion by September, 1976.

8.19. Scholarships:

The Ministry provides research scho- larships to the students of traditional Sanskrit pathshalas. About 125 scholars continued to receive scholarships during the year, 97 completed their research work and submitted their theses which were under consideration for publication by the Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati. About 3,000 merit scholarships are also awarded to students studying Sanskrit in higher secondary schools.

8.20. All India Sanskrit Elocution Contest:

The eighth allIndia Sanskrit Elocution Contest for students of Sanskrit institutions was held during the year and three Prizes in each of the 8 subjects of contest were awarded to successful Winners.

8.21. Sanskrit Day Celebrations:

As part of this Minis- try's participation in Sanskrit Day Celebrations, a Vedic Convention was held on August 27-28, 1969. Inaugurated by Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao, the Union Minister of Education and Youth

Services, the function was held under the chairmanship of Shri Bhakt Darshan, the Union Minister of State in the Ministry. About 75 Vedic scholars from all over the country participated in the convention.

8.22. Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati:

The Vidyapeetha brought out several important publications during the year. It also started its instruction wing in the shastras. New buildings for the Vidyapeetha are likely to be constructed shortly.

8.23. Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Delhi:

The Vidyapeetha provides facilities for imparting training in the methods of teaching Sanskrit and for research and higher studies in Sanskrit on traditional lines. It receives finan- cial assistance from the Ministry. New buildings for the Vidyapeetha are likely to be constructed shortly.

C:DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER LANGUAGES

8.24. Scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for the Development of Indian Languages:

As a Central scheme, this has been in operation from the middle of the Second Plan. Under it grants up to 50 per cent of the expenditure on approved items are sanctioned for bringing out publications like ency-clopaedias, bilingual dictionaries, books of knowledge, publications bringing out similarities among the various Indian languages, catalogues of manuscripts, books of cultural, literary, indological or linguistic interest, etc. Grants on the same basis are given for holding literary conferences, seminars and exhibitions and for other important activities relating to the development of Indian languages. Assistance is also extended for purchasing a limited number of copies of printed publications. The quantum of financial assistance for teaching Indian languages other than Hindi and Sanskrit in regions where these are not the official or State language was raised to 75 per cent during the year.

8.25. Grants to Cultural-cum-Language Organisations:

Ad hoc grants are given to a few cultural-cum-language organisations, namely, (1) Anjuman-e-Tarrequi-e-Urdu Hind.

Aligarh, (2) Prachya Vidya Vihara, Calcutta, (3) Bharat Itihas Sanshodhan Mandal, Poona, and (4) Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute, Hyderabad, which are engaged in conducting research in history, philosophy, culture, languages and other allied areas of study. A review is being made to assess whether recurring maintenance grants to these institutions which are basically ad hoc in nature, should be continued and, if so, for how long.

8.26. Award of Prizes for Books/manuscripts in Any Indian Language Other than Hindi and Sanskrit:

To encourage Indian writers all over the country to learn the languages of other regions and thus to promote social cohesion and national integration, the Ministry has decided during the year to institute a prize scheme under which prizes of the value of Rs. 1,000 each will be awarded to authors for books/manuscripts written by them in any Indian language other than their mother tongue, Hindi or Sanskrit. For the purpose of this scheme, the Indian languages (other than Hindi and Sanskrit) are divided into four groups namely, (i) Group-I: Urdu, Kashmiri, Punjabi and Sindhi; (ii) Group II: Marathi and Gujarati; (iii) Group III: Bengali, Oriya and Assamese; and (iv) Group IV: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Authors shall be required to submit books/manuscripts written by them in a language other than the group to which their mother tongue belongs. Subject choices can be made from fiction, drama, memoirs, travelogues and essays, poetry, and translations of standard literary works of one regional language into another. Every year, 65 prizes of Rs. 1,000 each are proposed to be awarded, on an average of five prizes for each of the 13 languages. The final awards under the scheme will be announced on 8th February every year, because it is the birthday of the late President of India, Dr. Zakir Husain.