New Delhi, Sep 15: Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said India’s expanding global influence could lead to greater international interest in Hindi, while calling for increased use of the language in government work and everyday communication.
Addressing a meeting of the Hindi Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports at the Sports Authority of India in New Delhi, Mandaviya said the strength of a nation is also reflected through its language and cultural identity.He said India’s growing engagement with the international community, including through trade and other areas of cooperation, could create greater demand among people abroad to learn Hindi and communicate with Indians.
The minister, however, stressed that efforts to promote Hindi should go hand in hand with the preservation and development of India’s regional languages. He said every Indian language has its own importance and deserves protection and encouragement.
Mandaviya acknowledged the international importance of English but said Hindi should have a stronger presence in domestic communication and government functioning. He described Hindi as a language that can help facilitate communication among people from different parts of the country.Referring to the National Education Policy, the minister said Indian languages have an important place in the education system.
He said students who develop knowledge of regional languages along with Hindi and English can benefit from broader educational and professional opportunities.He also emphasized the need to involve younger generations in efforts to preserve and expand the use of Indian languages.
The minister said the influence of a language depends not only on the number of its speakers but also on the willingness and need of people to learn and use it. With India’s international engagement increasing, he said, the requirement for Hindi-language communication could grow naturally.
During the meeting, committee members discussed progress made in promoting the use of Hindi in their respective areas of work. Officials also reviewed measures being taken by the ministry to encourage Hindi in official correspondence.
Members and experts were invited to suggest practical ways to make Hindi more effective in government communication, particularly in presenting information about public schemes, services and facilities in language that is simple and accessible to citizens.
Mandaviya welcomed the suggestions and said the ministry would examine them seriously to further strengthen the practical use of Hindi.
