Agartala, Feb 20: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the Joint Regional Official Language Conference for the Eastern, North-Eastern and Northern regions today at the Indoor Hall of the International Fair Ground in Hapania.
The conference is expected to witness participation from more than 3,000 delegates, including officials from various central government offices, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and banking institutions.
Addressing a press conference at the State Guest House yesterday, Anshuli Arya, Secretary of the Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs, shared details about the upcoming event. She informed that representatives from Eastern states such as West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand; all eight North-Eastern states; and Northern states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh will participate in the conference.
The primary objective of the conference is to strengthen the implementation of the Official Language policy and to promote the use of Hindi in official work.
Arya stated that under Article 343 of the Constitution of India, Hindi in Devanagari script has been designated as the Official Language of the Union. To ensure effective implementation of official language policies and promote progressive use of Hindi in government work, the Department of Official Language was established on June 26, 1975, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
She further noted that the framers of the Constitution also emphasized the importance of regional languages, ensuring equal respect for all languages and the right of citizens to express themselves in their mother tongues.
Highlighting India’s linguistic diversity, Arya said that while the country has a rich variety of languages and cultures, it is united in its diversity, and Hindi can serve as a link language reflecting this unity. She added that the Department organizes four regional official language conferences every financial year to encourage experience-sharing and enhance the use of official languages across regions.
The central government has taken several initiatives to promote Hindi, including setting up training institutes, appointing translators in all ministries, and integrating AI-based translation technologies for multilingual communication.
She also mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasis is being placed on preserving India’s cultural heritage and promoting linguistic harmony as part of the vision of building a developed India by 2047. Efforts led by Home Minister Amit Shah have resulted in increased use of Hindi in the functioning of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Arya highlighted that the conference is not only aimed at strengthening Indian languages but also at reducing unnecessary dependence on foreign languages.
To enhance coordination among Hindi and other Indian languages, the government has launched the “Bharati – Multilingual Translation Platform,” which supports the promotion and preservation of India’s linguistic heritage.
She added that the Department of Official Language is also promoting publications to spread linguistic awareness among the younger generation. Several research-based books and compilations have recently been published to highlight the relationship between Hindi and other Indian languages.
During the inaugural session tomorrow, a special presentation titled “Rajbhasha Bharati – North-East” will be showcased, and a special issue will be released. Books such as “Bharatiya Bhasha aur Rajbhasha Hindi – Kalajayi Rachna” and “Amrit Vani – Sanskrit’s Timeless Inspirational Verses” will also be released.
Exhibition stalls by banks, literary institutions and various organizations will be set up at the venue to showcase innovations and activities related to official language implementation.
A yoga session was also organized today at the same venue to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among officials.
Among others present at the press conference were Dr. Nidhi Pandey, Joint Secretary of the Department of Official Language, Dr. Pradip Kumar Chakraborty, Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, and Kripa Shankar Yadav, Additional Director General of PIB (North-East).
