NITK Surathkal Conducts Specialized Training on Indigenous Language Technology Tools
The Department of Official Language at the prestigious National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal in Mangaluru successfully organized a comprehensive one-day training program focused on 'Bharati–Bahubhashi and Hindi Shabd Sindhu' this Wednesday. This significant initiative was designed to enhance digital language capabilities across government sectors.
Collaborative Effort for Language Technology Advancement
The training program was conducted through a strategic collaboration between multiple key institutions:
- The Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs
- The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune
- The Town Official Language Implementation Committee (TOLIC), Mangaluru
This partnership brought together expertise from academic, technological, and implementation domains to create a holistic learning experience for participants.
Objectives and Tools Demonstrated
The primary objectives of the training were twofold: to create widespread awareness about indigenous language technologies and to provide practical, hands-on exposure to two crucial tools:
- Bharati–Bahubhashi: A sophisticated multilingual computing tool that facilitates seamless work across multiple Indian languages
- Hindi Shabd Sindhu: A comprehensive Hindi lexical resource developed by C-DAC that serves as an extensive database for Hindi language processing
Experts from C-DAC provided detailed explanations of the features, applications, and practical implementation of these tools, emphasizing their critical role in enabling multilingual governance and simplifying official work in Hindi and other Indian languages.
Widespread Participation and Distinguished Presence
The program attracted more than 160 enthusiastic participants representing various central government departments, state organizations, and Union territory administrations. Attendees particularly appreciated the practical demonstrations and interactive discussion sessions that allowed for direct engagement with the technology.
The inaugural session featured distinguished guests including Anirban Kumar Biswas, Deputy Director (Implementation) from the Ministry of Home Affairs, who served as chief guest, and Dr. Shashi Pal Singh, Scientist 'F' and Project Director at C-DAC, Pune, who attended as guest of honor. The program was presided over by Prof. B. Ravi, Director of NITK Surathkal.
Other notable attendees included Mallikarjun Angadi, Hindi Officer (In-charge); Balamuragan from Bank of Baroda, Mangaluru; Krishna Kumar Yadav, Secretary of TOLIC; along with faculty members, administrative staff, students, and various functionaries from participating organizations.
Strengthening Official Language Implementation
The training program concluded successfully with participants gaining valuable insights into how indigenous language technologies can transform official workflows. This initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening the implementation of India's official language policy while encouraging greater adoption of homegrown language solutions in government operations.
By equipping government officials with practical knowledge of these advanced tools, the program contributes to building a more inclusive digital ecosystem where language barriers are minimized and administrative efficiency is enhanced through technological innovation.
