PROMOTION OF LANGUAGES
12.1.0 Languages being the most important medium of education, their development occupies an important place in the National Policy on Education. Therefore, promotion and development of Hindi and other fourteen languages listed in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution including Sanskrit and Urdu on the 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, with its five centres; Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (RSS), New Delhi with its eight Vidyapeethas; Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), 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 ongoing schemes and programmes. The following are some of the important activities pertaining to promotion and development of languages undertaken during 1990-91.
Promotion and Development of Hindi 12.2.1 Ever since Second Five Year Plan, Central assistance is upper primary to higher secondary levels in non-Hindi speaking States/Union Territories. The extent of financial assistance given under this scheme is 100%. There is also a scheme for giving 100% Central assistance to non-Hindi speaking States/Union' Territories for establishment of Hindi Teachers Training Colleges. This assistance is also available to voluntary organisations for the same purpose. To encourage voluntary organisations engaged in promotion, development and propagation of Hindi, the Central Government has been providing them financial assistance since First Five Year Plan. Over the years, the number of organisations seeking financial assistance under this scheme is progressively increasing. With Government assistance, some of these organisations have grown into major institutions operating simultaneously in more than one State. Financial assistance is also being extended to voluntary organisations/societies/trusts as well as individuals for bringing out publications with a view to, promoting and propagating Hindi. Assistance is provided at the rate of 80% of the total cost estimates. The table below presents the achievements of some of the major schemes for propagation and development of Hindi.
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TABLE 12. 1
DEVELOPMENT AND PROPAGATION OF HINDI
ACHIEVEMENTS AT A GLANCE
i) Total Expenditure for development and Rs. 968.30 lakhs
propagation of Hindi during 1990-91.
ii) Establishment of computer based National About 2.00 lakh
Hindi Terminology Bank by Commission technical terms
for Scientific and Technical Terminology in Hindi fed
into the data
base by CSTT.
iii) Hindi teachers appointed/maintained in 2559
non-Hindi speaking States/UTs out of
grants from Central Government during
1990-91.
iv) Hindi teachers training colleges in non- 35
Hindi speaking States/UTs provided
assistance for establishment/maintenance
by the Central Government.
v) Intake capacity of Hindi teachers' 1360
training colleges assisted by Central
Government in non-Hindi speaking
States/UTs.
vi) New subjects for which glossaries of Mining, Petro-
Hindi technical terms developed by CSTT. leum, Aero-
nautics, compu-
ter Science,
Steel, Manage-
ment, Printing
Technology,
Non-ferrous
Metallurgy and
Architecture.
vii) New subjects for which definitional Petroleum,
Dictionaries in Hindi prepared by CSTT. Technology,
Computer
Science, Archi-
tecture, Metal-
lurgy, Journa-
lism and
Linguistics.
viii) Identification of PAN-Indian Technical 6000 PAN-
Terms. Indian Techni-
cal Terms in 11
Indian lan-
guages identi-
fied.
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ix) Foreign students from various countries 76
imparted training in Hindi during 1990-91.
x) Number of voluntary organisations provided 135
assistance for development of Hindi exclu-
ding publication and purchase of books.
xi) Number of cases in which grants were given 47
for publication and purchase of books in
Hindi during 1990-91.
Central Hindi Directorates ( CHD ) 12.2.2 The Directorate is compiling thirteen Hindi and thirteen regional languages based bilingual dictionaries. So far eleven dictionaries viz. Hindi-Assamese, Hindi-Gujarati, Hindi-Kashmiri, Hindi-Marathi, Hindi-Malayalam, Hindi-Oriya, Hindi-Sindhi, Hindi- Tamil, Hindi-Telugu, Hindi-Urdu and Oriya-Hindi dictionaries have been published. The Directorate has brought out eleven 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 "Bharatiya Bhasha Parichay Kosh". Under cultural exchange programme, Czech-Hindi and German-Hindi(Vol.I) dictionaries have been published. Under the UN Languages Dictionaries Programme, Hindi-Chinese, Hindi Arabic, Hindi-French and Hindi-Spanish dictionaries have been published. Besides these, Hindi-Kashmiri and Hindi-Assamese Conversational Guides have been published during the current year. 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, work on Hindi-Persian, Hindi-Sinhalese and Hindi-Indonesian is in progress.
12.2.3 The Directorate also brings out Hindi journals like "Unesco Doot" (Hindi version of the English Magazine entitled "Unesco Courier"), "Bhasha" (quarterly), "Varshiki" (annually) and "Sahityamala".
12.2.4 The Directorate is implementing a scheme of teaching Hindi through correspondence courses in the media of English, Tamil, Malayalam and Bengali. The enrolment in these courses during the current year is around 12,000. Some self-teaching records and cassettes have also been prepared for the purpose. Personal Contact Programmes are organised for removing the difficulties of the students.
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12.2.5 The Directorate has organised study tours of Hindi speaking areas by non-Hindi speakers and also released travel grants to research scholars of non-Hindi speaking areas. Neo-Hindi writers' workshops are held in non-Hindi areas to encourage original writing in Hindi, besides symposia for discussing various aspects of Indian literature in non-Hindi speaking areas. Sixteen non-Hindi speaking Hindi writers are given awards every year.
12.2.6 A number of books have been sent free of cost to the non- Hindi states for the propagation of Hindi. Exhibition of Hindi books is another activity of the Directorate. The Directorate is also conducting a survey of spoken form of Hindi as official languages.
Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) 12.2.7 The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) was set up in October, 1961 for evolution of scientific and technical terminology in Hindi and other Indian languages, production of university level books and reference literature in all disciplines to facilitate smooth changeover of media of instruction in Universities.
Terminology 12.2.8 More than five lakh scientific and technical terms have so far been evolved and published by the Commission. It has also brought out glossaries in Space Science, Computer Science, Metallurgy and Printing Technology. Publication of "Consolidated Glossary of Administrative Terms", Printing of "Comprehensive Glossary of Social Sciences" and "Comprehensive Glossary of Sciences" is in an advanced stage. During the year, more than 30,000 technical terms were finalised for use by respective organisations/departments. Financial assistance and technical advice were rendered to State Language Academies for evolution of terminology in regional languages.
Definitional Dictionaries 12.2.9 The CSTT has brought out thirty-seven definitional dictionaries so far.
Pan-Indian Terminology 12.2.10 Twenty-two thousand pan-Indian terms have been identified and published in subject-wise glossaries for free distribution amongst scholars, writers, translators and journalists.
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University Level Book Production and Quarterly Journal 12.2.11 The CSTT has brought out, in collaboration with the Hindi Granth Academies, State Text-Book Boards and University Cells 9,276 University level books in Hindi and regional languages. The Commission has also produced 348 books in the field of engineering, medicine and agriculture. The CSTT also brings out a quarterly journal "Vigyan Garima Sindhu".
Terminology Orientation Workshop 12.2.12 With a view to promoting and popularising appropriate use of the terminology evolved by the Commission, the CSTT organises workshops in diverse disciplines of basic sciences. Annually 12-15 such workshops are organised. A Workshop on Administrative Terminology for the benefit of Hindi officers was also organised during the current year.
Computerisation of Terminology 12.2.13 With a view to facilitating effective coordination, updating and printing of comprehensive subject group-wise and subject-wise glossaries and creating a data-base for setting up a computer based National Terminology Bank, the CSTT has undertaken scientific and technical terms evolved by the Commission.
Kendriya Hindi Sansthan KHS 12.2.14 In pursuance of the objective of training Hindi Teachers in non-Hindi speaking States, the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (KHS) with its Headquarters at Agra and five Centres located at Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Mysore and Shillong has been conducting many important programmes such as training courses like Nishnat and Parangat Certificate courses etc. They are conducting extension programmes for Hindi teachers in tribal areas. The Sansthan has also developed text books and instructional materials for teaching Hindi in non Hindi speaking areas.
12.2.15 A full fledged academic course for teaching Hindi to foreigners is being conducted by the Sansthan under the scheme of "Propagation of Hindi Abroad". During the current year, the Government of India has awarded scholarships to forty-two students from various foreign countries.
12.2.16 On the occassion of the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Sansthan, a scheme entitled, "Hindi Sevi Samman Yojna" was instituted. Under the scheme, awards are given to individuals for their distinguished contribution in the field of development and propagation of Hindi, Hindi journalism, creative literature, scientific and technical Hindi literature etc., every year.
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Promotion and Development of Modern Indian Languages (MIL)
Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore 12.3.1 With a view to training teachers in Modern Indian Languages for implementing the three language formula, the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), is running full academic year course for school teachers from different States and Union Territories at their four Regional Language Centres and two Urdu Training Research Centres. Two hundred and fifty seven trainees in thirteen languages, sponsored by different State governments were admitted during the year under report. In addition to this, one hundred and ten teachers have joined the correspondence courses in Tamil and Bengali being conducted on an experimental basis. To develop proficiency tests in languages for measurement of language competency, Institute has prepared test items in seven languages, while preparation of tests in other seven languages is in progress.
12.3.2 The Insititute has also prepared grammars, dictionaries and primers in many tribal and border languages, besides publishing a number of books in tribal languages.
12.3.3 Financial assistance is being provided to voluntary organisations as well as individuals for bringing out publications with a view to promoting and propagating Modern Indian languages. Similarly, voluntary organisations engaged in promotional activities in various Modern Indian Languages also receive Central assistance.
Taraqqi-e-Urdu Board 12.3.4 Taraqqi-e-Urdu Board which was constituted in 1969, is an apex advisory body to advise the Government on promotion and development of Urdu language. chairman of the Board is the Minister of State for Education and its advisory board consists of Members of Parliament, Urdu scholars, academicians, representatives of voluntary organisations and Urdu academies.
12.3.5 Bureau for Promotion of Urdu which executes and implements recommendations of the Board, functions as its secretariat. The main activities of the Bureau during the year were as under :-
* Printed about 650 publications in various disciplines humanities, science, technical terminology, medicine, law etc.
* Published glossaries of technical terms in seven subjects, three Urdu-Urdu dictionaries and Andhra Pradesh Textbooks.
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* Publication of Urdu Encyclopaedia in twelve volumes and English-Urdu dictionary in five volumes is in the pipeline.
* Published half-yearly research journal called "Fikr-e- Tahqeeq".
* Gave financial assistance to thirty-eight Calligraphy Training Centres all over India, out of which seven are exclusively meant for ladies. More than 350 trainees have successfully completed their courses and are now actively engaged in calligraphy work.
* Provided Urdu translation of NCERT textbooks.
* Provided financial assistance to organisations and individuals for publication of books in Urdu including by way of bulk purchase of books. Also provided financial assistance to recognised institutions for language promotional activities like holding of conferences, seminars and workshops.
Committee to examine implementation of recommendations of Gujral
Committee for Promotion of Urdu 12.3.6 The Government had set up in February 1991 a Committee of Experts under the chairmanship of Ali Sardar Jafri to examine implementation of recommendations of Gujral Committee for Promotion of Urdu. The Committee submitted its Report to the Government on September 18, 1990. The recommendations of the Committee are under consideration of the Government.
Promotion of Sindhi 12.3.7 A scheme of "Production of Standard Literature in Sindhi" for promotion and development of Sindhi language and literature is being implemented through the Central Hindi Directorate.
12.3.8 A national seminar on 125 years of Sindhi journalism was organised in Delhi on 23-24 August, 1990. Another seminar on growth of Sindi literature after independence was held on 12-13 January, 1991. One Neo-Sindhi writers' workshop was held on 18-24 February, 1991 and preparation for a second one is underway.
12.3.9 Under the scheme of financing of book production in Sindhi 200 copies each of seventy five books be-sides copies of nine magazines were purchased. Prizes are also awarded to Sindhi writers under this scheme.
12.3.10 Work on coiling of Sindhi equivalents of technical terms has begun. About 1000 words were coined in a technical
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terminology seminar held at Pune in July, 1990.
12.3.11 The Government has set up a Sindhi Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Human Resource Development to advise on matters pertaining to promotion and development of Sindhi language.
Improvement of English Language Teaching 12.4.0 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 Language (CIEFL) for the setting up of at least one district centre for English language in each State. So far, twenty-five centres have been set up. The Government is also providing assistance to Regional Insitutes of English and English Language Teaching Institutes of different States through the CIEFL for strengthening them.
Promotion of Sanskrit and Other Classical Languages 12.5.1 A variety of programmes have been formulated and implemented for the development and promotion of Sanskrit and other classical languages like Arabic and Persian. During the period under report, following developmental programmes were implemented :
Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi