For the promotion of all Indian languages, including Hindi, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) will be starting a structured course in the coming academic session. Talking to IANS, ICCR president Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said, "The ICCR's mandate is to promote Indian culture, not a particular language abroad. Language is also part of the culture and it has become an important medium for the promotion of culture and ICCR is doing it by promoting Hindi and other Indian languages."

Sahasrabuddhe stated that the ICCR is providing training for Indian languages, including Hindi to people abroad as per the demand. "We are providing training in Tamil, Sanskrit and other Indian languages, including Hindi as per demand and requirement. For example, in Israel, there is a large Marathi population and if required ICCR will provide training in the Marathi language. Similarly, ICCR will provide training in Bengali and other Indian languages as per demand and requirement," Sahasrabuddhe said.

He noted that in association with Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, ICCR is offering courses in areas where demand for Hindi is high. "Demand and curiosity for the Hindi language are high in east Europe, Poland; Hungry, or old USSR countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," Sahasrabuddhe said. Sahasrabuddhe mentioned that the ICCR is working with IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) and Central Hindi University, Wardha to develop a well-structured course for all Indian languages including Hindi.

"From the coming academic session, we are planning to start a well designed structured course like Spanish and Japanese for all Indian languages including Hindi. The course will be divided into levels I, II and so on. The ICCR has joined hands with the IGNOU and Central Hindi University. The course will be designed in structured form and talks are on to introduce it from the coming academic session," the ICCR president said. When asked for specific work for the promotion of Hindi abroad, Sahasrabuddhe said the ICCR is taking steps to provide training as per demand.

"For the promotion of Hindi abroad, the ICCR provides Hindi teachers as per demand for teaching Hindi in Indian Cultural Centers abroad and for Chairs established abroad to various foreign universities," he said.

(AS/IANS)

Keywords: Language, Culture, Indian languages, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, ICCR.