PROMOTION OF LANGUAGES
12.0.0 Languages being Central to education, their development occupies an important place in National Policy on Education. Therefore, promotion and development of Hindi and other 14 langauges listed in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution including Sanskrit and Urdu on one hand and English as well as foreign languages on the other hand was given due attention. In fulfilling this responsibility, the Department is assisted by a number of autonomous organisations and subordinate offices, namely, Kendriya Hindi Shikshan Mandal (KHS), Agra; Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (RSS), New Delhi with its 8 Vidyapeeths; Central Institute of Indian Languages (ClIL), Mysore with its four Regional Centres 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). During the year under report, the Department continued its on-going schemes and programmes. The following are some of important activities pertaining to promotion and development of languages undertaken during 1988-89:-
Promotion and Development of Hindi 12.1.0 Ever since Second Five Year Plan, Central Assistance is being provided for appointment of Hindi teachers in upper primary to higher, secondary schools in non-Hindi speaking States/Union Territories. The extent of financial assistance given under this scheme is 100%. About 7,000 Hindi teachers have been appointed so far by the non-Hindi speaking States and Union Territories during the current Five Year Plan. A similar scheme exists for giving 100% Central assistance to non-Hindi speaking States/Union Territories for establishment of Hindi teachers training colleges in those States/Union Territories. This assistance is also available to voluntary organisations for the same purpose. So far 29 colleges in different parts of the country have benefited under this scheme, of which 19 are being run by State Governments and 10 by Voluntary Hindi Organisations. The annual intake of these colleges is about 1000 trainees.
12.1.1 Since dictionaries have been found to be useful tools for language learning and language analysis, the Dictionary projects have been assigned due importance. Under these projects the Central Hindi Directorate is compiling 13 Hindi based and 13 regional languages based dictionaries. So far, Hindi-Gujarati, Hindi-Sindhi, Hindi-Urdu, Hindi-Marathi, Hindi-Assamese, Hindi-Tamil, Hindi-Telugu, Hindi- Malayalam, Hindi-Oriya dictionaries have been published. Central Hindi Directorate have also brought out five trilingual dictionaries, while 12 Hindi based and 12 regional languages based trilingual dictionaries are being compiled. They have also published one multi- lingual dictionary. A 'Tatsam' word dictionary, with 2000 entries in Hindi and 13 regional languages has also been published. Under the Cultural Exchange Programmes, Hindi-Chinese, Hindi-Arabic, Hindi- French and Hindi-Spanish dictionaries have been published.
12.1.2 Nearly 5 lakh scientific and technical terms belonging to 27 subjects covering basic sciences, applied sciences, social sciences and humanities have been evolved and published in the form of consolidated and subject-wise glossaries. Evaluation of terminology in the developed and specialised fields like Computer Science, Printing Technology and modern architecture etc. is in progress. Important journals like Unesco Doot (Hindi version of the English magazine entitled 'Unesco Courier') is also being brought out by Central Hindi Directorate. They
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are also publishing quarterly Hindi journal"Bhasha" and annual Journal-Narshki". Similarly, the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology is also publishing a Science journal in Hindi called "Vigyan Garima Sindhu". Similar journal for social sciences is planned for publication during this year.
12.1.3 In pursuance of the policy directive to switch. over medium of instruction at university level to Hindi and regional languages, a scheme was formulated for producing university level text books in different disciplines. The Central assistance, limited to Rs. 100 lakhs; for each state, was provided to 15 participating. States and four Universities for gradual adoption of Hindi and Regional languages as media of higher education. A total of 8300 titles have been produced/re-produced in Hindi and other Indian languages, including 280 titles produced by the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology, who have been designated as a nodal agency for the scheme.
12.1.4 Financial assistance is being extended to voluntary Organisations/Societies/Trusts as well as individuals for bringing out publications with a view to promoting and propagating Hindi and other Indian languages. The assistance is provided at the rate of 80% of the total cost estimates as approved by the Government. Realising the importance of distance education, Central Hindi Directorate is implementing a scheme of teaching Hindi through correspondence courses with English, Tamil,. Bangla and Malayalam as media. The enrolment in these courses during the current year is around 15,000.
12.1.5 Central Hindi Directorate has organised study tours for non- Hindi speakers in Hindi speaking areas and released travel grants to research scholars of non-Hindi speaking areas. Eight new writers' workshops were held in non-Hindi speaking areas to encourage original writings in Hindi, besides holding symposia for 'discussing various aspects of Indian literature in non-Hindi speaking areas.
12.1.6 Workshops for the university/college level teachers were. organised by the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology for guiding these teachers in the use. of Hindi for teaching purpose through. the terminology evolved by them.
12.1.7 In pursuance of the objective to train Hindi teachers in non- Hindi speaking States, Kendriya Hindi Sansthan is conducting many important programmes i.e. running a number of training courses like Nishnat & Parangat certificate courses etc. They are conducting extension programmes for training Hindi teachers in tribal areas. A full academic course for teaching of Hindi to foreigners is being run by the Sansthan. During the current year, the Government awarded 50 scholarships to foreign students. Sansthan has also brought out a number of text-books and primers for teaching Hindi in tribal areas.
12.1.8 The Silver jubilee of Kendriya Hindi' Sansthan was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 13.2.89. On this occasion, the following awards were given away by the Prime Minister for outstanding contributions to Hindi:
Sl. No. Name of Awardee Area of contribution
(A)
1. Shri M. Satyanarain Teaching, training and
2. Shri G.P. Nene propagation of Hindi
3. Shri Giriraj Kishore
4. Shri Shankar Rao Londhe
5. Smt. Mutubai Mane
6. Shri Rajni Kant Chakravarti
7. Shri M.K. Vailayudhan Nair
8. Shri S.R. Sarangpani
9. Shri Dattatreya Mishra
10. Shir Narasingh Nand Sharma
11. Shri H. Gokulanand Sharma
12. Shri Narendra Anjaria
(B)
1. Shri Dharamvir Bharati Hindi journalism and
2. Shri Balsherri Reddy creative literature
3. Shri K.G. Balkrishan Pillai
(C)
1. Shri R.C. Mehrotra Development of scientific
2. Dr. Brij Mohan and technological liter-
3. Pr. Om Vikas ture/equipment in Hindi
4. Shri Gunakar Mullay
(D)
1. Dr. Prabhakar Machve Promotion and develop-
2. Dr. Brijeshwar Verma ment of Hindi
3. Dr. Hardev Bahri
4. Dr. N. Nagappa
5. Prof. Ram Singh Tomar
12.1.9 The proposal regarding establishment of International Hindi University is under active consideration in consultation with the University Grants Commission. Comments received from UGC in this regard are under deliberations of High Level Committee.
12.1.10 To encourage voluntary organisations engaged in promotion, development and propagation of Hindi, Central Government is providing them financial assistance at the rate of 75% of their approved estimates. Around 170 organisations are receiving such assistance. Organisations like, Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha and Akhil 'Bharatiya
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Hindi Sanstha Sangh are receiving 100% financial assistance.
Promotion and Development of Modern Indian Languages 12.2.1 With a view to develop and train teachers in Modern Indian Languages for implementing the Three Language Formula, the Central Institute of Indian Languages is running full academic year courses for school teachers from different States/ Union Territories at their four Regional Language Centres and two Training Research Centres. Three hundred and ninety seven teacher trainees sponsored by different State Governments in 13 languages were admitted during the year under report. In addition to this, 110 are taking correspondence courses in Tamil and Bengali on experimental basis. To develop proficiency tests is languages for measurement of language competency, the Institute has prepared test items in seven languages, while tests in other seven languages are in progress.
12.2.2 The Institute has prepared grammars, dictionaries and primers in many tribal and border area languages, besides publishing a number of books in and on tribal languages. The Bureau for Promotion of Urdu has set up a branch office at Hyderabad to give a boost to Urdu promotion activities in South India. For preserving and developing calligraphic art in Urdu, BPU has set up 36 Calligraphic Training Centres in the country, of which 6 centres are exclusively for women. About 1000 students have so far benefited by these centres. The Bureau has also brought out a number of publications in Urdu, besides a glossary of technical terms in Urdu. A research journal in Urdu called 'Fikro Tahkeek' is also being published by the Bureau.
12.2.3 Financial assistance is being provided to voluntary organisations as well as individuals for bringing out publications with a view to promote and, propagate modern Indian languages. Similarly, voluntary organisations engaged in promotional activities in various modern Indian languages receive central assistance. The pattern of assistance under the schemes correspond to those for Hindi.
12.2.4 Schemes are being implemented through the Central Hindi Directorate for promotion and development of Sindhi which includes publication assistance, financial assistance for the voluntary organisations engaged in promotion and propagation of Sindhi and awards for Sindhi-Scholars.
Improvement of Proficiency in English 12.3.1 In order to bring about substantial improvement in the standards of teaching/learning of English in the country, the Government is giving assistance through the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL), for the setting up at least one district centre for English language in each state. So far, 22 centres have been set up. The Government is providing assistance to Regional Institutes of English, and English Language Teaching Institutes in different States through Central Institute for strengthening them.
12.3.2 The Government: has entrusted a scheme to Regional Institutes of English in collaboration with CIEFL for preparation of tests for measuring proficiency levels in English for students after standard X as well as for foreign students coming to India for advanced study. These tests for measuring English proficiency called 'TEP 10'and' TEP 12 are at an advanced stage.
Promotion of Sanskrit and Other Classical Languages 12.4.1 Recognising the importance of Sanskrit in promoting national integration and appreciation and preservation of our cultural heritage, several programmes have been initiated by the Government for the development and promotion of Sanskrit education and learning. Programme for the propagation and development of Arabic and Persian, the other two classical languages, has also been continued. Some of the main activities undertaken during 1988-89 for promotion of Sanskrit (including Pali and Prakrit) language, literature and learning are indicated below:-
Financial Assistance to Voluntary Sanskrit Institutions Engaged in the
Propagation and Development of Sanskrit 12.4.2 Under this scheme, registered voluntary Sanskrit Organisations are given recurring and nonrecurring grants for salary of teachers, scholarships to students, construction and repair of buildings, furniture, library etc. Seventy five per cent of the approved expenditure on each of the above items is given as grant from the Ministry and in the case of Vedic Institutions where oral Vedic tradition is being preserved, Govt. grant covers 95% of the total approved expenditure. About 700 Sanskrit Organisations are being given financial aid during this year.
Adarsh Sanskrit Maha-Vidyalaya/Shodh Samsthas 12.4.3 Out of the Voluntary Organisations, a few
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institutions having potential for future development and offering post-graduate studies are provided with financial assistance @ 95% of recurring and 75% of non-recurring expenditure. So far, 12 post- graduate teaching institutions and two post-graduate research institutions have been brought under the purview of this scheme. Three of them are in Uttar Pradesh, one in, Kerala, three in Bihar, two in Haryana, two in Maharashtra and three in Tamil Nadu.
Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan 12.4.4 The Sansthan, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry, has been set up for preservation and propagation of Sanskrit, including research, publication, collection and preservation of manus- cripts and organising training activities. Since 1970, it has established eight Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeethas in seven States situated at Tirupathi, Delhi, Jammu, Allahabad, Puri, Guruvayoor,Jaipur and Lucknow. In addition, it has about 39 private institutions affiliated to it for the purpose of examination. It conducts examinations and awards certificates and degrees from Prathma to Vidya-Varidhi. It also provides Teachers' training, at graduate and post-graduate levels. At present, there are 2000 students, on the rolls of Sansthan's Vidyapeethas, out of which 1200 students are given scholarships for their studies and about 700 students are provided with hostel facilities.
Deemed Universities 12.4.5 Two Vidyapeethas at Delhi and Tirupathi were declared as 'Deemed Universities', on 16th November, 1987.
12.4.6 The Vidyapeethas, apart from providing training, have undertaken a number of research, development and extension activities. These are discussed below:-
The Allahabad Vidyapeetha, which specialises in collection and preservation of manuscripts, has so far collected about 50,000 manuscripts and has published several important works. It has also launched a programme of microfilming manuscripts from the Kashmir University pertaining to Kashmir Shaivism. The work is under progress.
The Tirupati Vidyapeetha has been working on the following projects:
Agama Kosha : The Vaikhanasa Agama Kosha has been taken up for printing. It will be followed by Pancaratra and Shaivism Kosha.
Tape Recording of. Vedas : Vedic recitation of various sakhas have been recorded up to 1200 hours. Further work is in progress with the help of Tirupati Tirumala Davasthanam.
Tape Recording of Oral Shastric Tradition: Tape Recording of Mimansa tradition has been completed and recording of Nyaya tradition has started:
Jammu Vidyapeetha : This Vidyapeetha speialises in Kashmir Shaiv Darshan and the manuscript for Kashmir Shaiv Darshan Kosha has been completed. Revision is going on. A centre at Srinagar is being opened for collection of manuscripts of this tradition.
The Delhi Vidyapeetha specialises in the preparation of a Sandarbha Kosha on Sankhya Yoga, the manuscript of which is complete. The printing of Sabara Bhasya with commentaries is in progress.