logo
Centre urged to strengthen CIIL for protection and promotion of language studies

Centre urged to strengthen CIIL for protection and promotion of language studies

The Hindu17-07-2025
G.K. Panikkar, director, International School of Dravidian Linguistics, Thiruvananthapuram, on Thursday said that the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, has the potential to become the world's topmost institution in the field of language-related study and research and in finding out solutions to language-related problems.
'For sustainable development of Indian languages and for protection of the cultural ethos of Indian people, I appeal to the Government of India to strengthen the CIIL, giving it necessary freedom, and academic, financial and administration support,' he said, in his address as the chief guest at the 57th foundation day of the CIIL here.
Mr. Panikkar praised the CIIL for its work in the protection and documentation of minor languages. Almost all tribal languages of India, including those with less than 10,000 speakers had been analysed by CIIL researchers, who prepared grammars and lexicons for them, he explained.
He further said that textbooks were prepared for primary classes to enable tribal students to have their early education in their own mother tongue itself, and then switch over to the major language of their respective regions.
'As a part of CIIL's role to promote multilingualism and its efforts for the effective implementation of the three-language formula, school teachers were trained in different languages — especially South Indian languages to the teachers of North Indian states,' he stated.
'I think this project successfully continues even now by expanding its scope to all the major languages of the country. It now trains teachers in second language teaching methodologies providing them with linguistics orientation,' he added.
He said that the application of AI and other technological innovations may also be helpful to CIIL for solving many of our present-day problems. Similarly, steps towards equipping one's mother tongue for higher education such as the preparation of dictionaries of science terms in regional languages and so on are the need of the hour, he added.
On the occasion, the 'Bhasha Sanchika' portal — a digital language repository of CIIL, which is described as a pioneering platform where language preservation, dissemination, and technology converges, was launched.
The launch of the Bhasha Sanchika (Language Archive of India) marks a significant milestone in CIIL's ongoing efforts to safeguard India's linguistic diversity. Developed using D-Space, a widely adopted open-source digital asset management system, the portal serves as a resource hub for the promotion, documentation, and preservation of Indian languages and cultural heritage, according to CIIL.
CIIL Director Shailendra Mohan presided over the event. Former CIIL Directors, language experts, and other dignitaries were present. The inaugural event was followed by panel discussions.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cosmologists flock to city for summit
Cosmologists flock to city for summit

Time of India

time35 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Cosmologists flock to city for summit

Chennai: About 100 cosmologists and researchers from renowned institutions across the country will gather at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc) in the city to discuss the evolution of universe from July 28 to Aug 1. The first edition of Cosmic Connections will explore the universe from its earliest instants to its evolution into the large-scale structure. The discussions will cover the early universe (when the age of the universe was less than 400,000 years), the intermediate universe (between 400,000 years to one billion years), and the late universe (more than one billion years). "The main aim of the meeting is to bring together the researchers working in cosmology in the country. It will also give a platform for early-career researchers and students," said Dhiraj Kumar Hazra, faculty member of IMSc and convener of the meeting. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The five-day programme will feature 70 full-length talks on topics such as inflation, primordial gravitational waves, cosmic microwave background (CMB), quantum fluctuations, cosmic reionization, formation of galaxies during cosmic dawn, and galaxy evolution studies using instruments such as the James Webb Space Telescope, LIGO-India and SKA- India projects. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Slonim: Unsold Sofas May Be at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo Sessions will also explore dark matter halo structure, galaxy clustering, and gravitational wave cosmology. "The objective is to foster collaboration within the Indian cosmology community and strengthen the country's participation in major international surveys and future missions," Dhiraj Kumar Hazra added. The meeting will include a discussion session on 'India's Cosmic Odyssey: From Earth to the Edge of the Universe' on July 31. It will focus on India's strategic involvement in current and future cosmology missions and proposals, specifically,

ISRO-NASA Joint Satellite NISAR Set For Launch On July 30 From Sriharikota
ISRO-NASA Joint Satellite NISAR Set For Launch On July 30 From Sriharikota

India.com

timean hour ago

  • India.com

ISRO-NASA Joint Satellite NISAR Set For Launch On July 30 From Sriharikota

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday stated that the upcoming launch of NISAR, the first joint Earth observation satellite by ISRO and NASA, will mark a key milestone in Earth observation technology. NISAR will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30 at 17:40 IST. NISAR is the first mission of its kind, jointly developed by ISRO and NASA. It is an L- and S-band, global, microwave imaging mission, with the capability to acquire fully polarimetric and interferometric data, as per an official statement from ISRO. The unique dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar of NISAR employs the advanced, novel SweepSAR technique, which provides high-resolution and large-swath imagery. NISAR will image the global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea-ice and selected oceans, every 12 days. The NISAR mission's primary objectives are to study land & ice deformation, land ecosystems, and oceanic regions in areas of common interest to the US and Indian science communities. The joint mission will accomplish multiple tasks, including measuring the woody biomass and its changes, tracking changes in the extent of active crops, understanding the changes in wetlands' extent, and mapping Greenland & Antarctica's ice sheets and the dynamics of sea ice and mountain glaciers. As per the statement, it will also help characterise land surface deformation related to seismicity, volcanism, landslides, and subsidence & uplift associated with changes in subsurface aquifers, hydrocarbon reservoirs, etc. "One mission to watch Earth. #ISRO #NASA builds, Earth benefits. This marks a key milestone in Earth observation technology. Stay tuned as we bring you closer to the mission that watches our world," ISRO said in a post on X. "The Spacecraft is built around ISRO's I-3K Structure. It carries two major Payloads viz., L & S- Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The S-band Radar system, data handling & high-speed downlink system, the spacecraft and the launch system are developed by ISRO. The L-band Radar system, the high-speed downlink system, the Solid-State Recorder, the GPS receiver, and the 9 m Boom hoisting the 12m reflector are delivered by NASA. Further, ISRO takes care of the satellite commanding and operations; NASA will provide the orbit manoeuvre plan and RADAR operations plan. NISAR mission will be aided with ground station support from both ISRO and NASA for downloading of the acquired images, which, after the necessary processing, will be disseminated to the user community," the statement added. The data acquired through S-band and L-band SAR from a single platform will help scientists understand the changes happening to Planet Earth. The complex payloads and mainframe systems have been designed, developed, qualified and realised over a period of 8 to 10 years. "The S- Band SAR and L- Band SAR were independently developed, integrated and tested at ISRO and JPL/NASA respectively. The Integrated Radar Instrument Structure (IRIS), consisting of S - Band and L - Band SAR and other payload elements were intergrated and tested at JPL/NASA and delivered to ISRO," it stated. Mainframe satellite elements and payloads were assembled, integrated and tested at URSC/ISRO. The mission phases can be broadly classified into: Launch phase, Deployment Phase, Commissioning Phase and Science Phase. NISAR will be launched onboard the GSLV-F16 launch vehicle on July 30, 2025 from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), also referred to as Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR), located in Sriharikota on the southeast coast of the Indian peninsula. It hosts a 12m dia large reflector which shall be deployed in-orbit 9m away from the satellite by a complex multistage deployable boom designed and developed by JPL/NASA. The first 90 days after launch will be dedicated to commissioning, or In-Orbit Checkout (IOC), the objective of which is to prepare the observatory for science operations. Commissioning is divided into sub-phases of initial checks and calibrations of mainframe elements followed by JPL engineering payload and instrument checkout. The science operations phase begins at the end of commissioning and extends till end of mission life. During this phase, the science orbit will be maintained via regular maneuvers, scheduled to avoid or minimize conflicts with science observations. Extensive calibration and validation (CalVal) activities will take place. The observation plan for both L and S-band instruments, along with engineering activities (e.g., maneuvers, parameter updates, etc.), will be generated pre-launch via frequent coordination between JPL and ISRO, the statement added.

Modi hails Shubhanshu Shukla's return to Earth as India's new Chandrayaan moment
Modi hails Shubhanshu Shukla's return to Earth as India's new Chandrayaan moment

Hindustan Times

time7 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Modi hails Shubhanshu Shukla's return to Earth as India's new Chandrayaan moment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday likened Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's safe return to Earth from the Axiom-4 mission this month to the historic moon landing of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023. In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, Modi said such landmark moments spark a new wave of enthusiasm across the country, especially by igniting children's curiosity about science and space. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) 'The moment Shubhanshu landed safely back on Earth, people jumped with joy. A wave of happiness swept through every heart. The whole country was filled with pride,' Modi said in his 124th Mann Ki Baat speech. 'I still remember when Chandrayaan 3 successfully landed on the Moon in August 2023, a new atmosphere was created in the country.' 'Little children now say, we will also go to Space; we will also land on the Moon – we will become space scientists,' he said, adding that space startups have grown at a rapid speed, from less than 50 startups five years ago to over 200 now. Launched on June 25, 2025 aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, the Axiom-4 mission concluded on July 15 after an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was conducted in collaboration with NASA, Axiom Space and ESA, wherein Shukla and his crewmates carried out 60 experiments on medicine, agriculture, and the effect of space. India will celebrate its second National Space Day on August 23, which commemorates the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. Modi has invited citizens to share their suggestions on how the occasion should be celebrated, asking them to submit ideas on the NaMo app. Modi also highlighted recent achievements in science, including students winning medals at the International Chemistry and Mathematical Olympiads. He also noted that Mumbai will host the world's largest Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in August, with participants from over 60 countries. He called it a sign of India's growing strength in both 'Olympics and Olympiads.' He lauded India's performance at the World Police and Fire Games held in the US, where Indian personnel won nearly 600 medals and placed among the top three out of 71 countries. He also announced that India will host the 2029 edition of the event. Shifting focus to India's cultural achievements, Modi said, 'UNESCO has recognized 12 Maratha forts as World Heritage Sites. Eleven forts in Maharashtra; one in Tamil Nadu. Each fort has a chapter of history attached to it. Every stone is a testimony to a historical event.' UNESCO's recognition highlights a defence network built by the Marathas between the 17th and 19th centuries across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. However, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) had advised deferring the nomination, saying the selected forts weren't enough to represent the full Maratha defence system and raised concerns about protection and classification. Despite this, India's bid won strong support at the World Heritage Committee session in Paris. August is the 'month of revolution,' marking several pivotal moments in India's history like Tilak's death anniversary (August 1), the Quit India Movement (August 8), Independence Day (August 15), and Partition Horrors Remembrance Day (August 14), said the Prime Minister. The Swadeshi Movement of 1905 kicked off on August 7, the date we now honour as National Handloom Day. This year will mark a full decade of celebrating looms and legacy, noted the PM. Far from being just threads and textiles, the handloom sector, he said, is a sign of empowerment, weaving together women's ambition, rural enterprise, and cultural identity. As the government sets its sights on 2047, the centenary of independence, the PM's call was clear: go vocal for local, buy what's made here, stitched here, and is steeped in the sweat and skill of our own people.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store