Nagaland governor La. Ganesan has reminded that advocating for the cultivation of Hindi language in Nagaland was not to supplant the rich cultural languages of Nagaland, but to serve as a bridge to connect with the rest of India.
Ganesan said this while speaking at the two-day national seminar on status of Hindi teaching in North East India with reference to Nagaland at the Lecture Hall, Department of English on Thursday organized by NU Kohima Campus & Central Institute of Hindi, Agra.
The governor, who is also the chief rector of Nagaland University, called upon the participants to emphasize on the importance of Hindi not only as a language but a common thread that binds diverse parts of the country together.
Asserting that languages were not solely tools for communication but were carriers of culture, tradition, history, and identity, the governor reminded that the universality of Hindi often bridges those linguistic gaps, fostering a sense of unity amidst diversity.
Ganesan, who graced the programme as chief guest, said that the importance of education was supreme for the proper development of human values, the realization of the imagination of the mind, the building of a healthy society and a prosperous and powerful nation.
Recalling India’s rich educational tradition, the governor said that India has been illuminating the world with the light of knowledge for thousands of years. He said that India’s great intellectual tradition and educational system had produced many great scholars, who made original contributions to the world of astronomy, mathematics, medical sciences, grammar, philosophy, yoga, engineering, architecture, building construction, etc. in their own languages.
Ganesan said that the glorious educational system of the ancient India was destroyed on account of many historical and political reasons. He, however, expressed that the new NEP was implemented in 2020 to regain its former glory with focus on education in mother tongues and the local languages.
Giving a special address, NU chancellor Dr. Samudra Gupta Kashyap highlighted the importance of Hindi and encouraged to promote the Hindi language with optimism.
NU vice-chancellor Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik also spoke on the growth of Hindi in all parts of the state and urged upon the people to be keen of language of the Hindi language.
Others who spoke at the programme included Prof. Nand Kishore Pandey and Asst Prof. Dept. of Hindi Dr. Brijesh Kumar.
Dean of school of humanities and education, Kohima campus Prof Buno Zetsuvi delivered the welcome addressed said that 12 PhD scholars including four Nagas were pursuing their degree under NU. The two-day seminar saw the participation of various Researchers and Scholars from the various institutions of the Country.
The programme was conducted by Dr. Neha Rawat. Special song was presented by NU students. The greetings message was given by VC Kohima campus Prof. GT Thong while the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Munni Chaudhary, HoD Hindi department.