Hindi is a Powerful Expression of India’s National Consciousness and Cultural Identity: CM Dhami
CM stresses need to strengthen Hindi in science, technology, research and digital platforms; 126 students honoured on Hindi Day
State Government committed to preservation and promotion of Uttarakhand’s regional languages and literature
Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended Hindi Day greetings to writers, authors, linguists, students and Hindi enthusiasts at a Hindi Day समारोह held at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office. He said Hindi Day is an important occasion to celebrate India’s culture, civilization, national consciousness and cultural heritage and to pass these values on to the younger generation.
The Chief Minister said that Hindi is not merely a language of communication but a powerful expression of India’s national consciousness and cultural identity. Over the years, Hindi has served as a bridge connecting different regions, languages, dialects and cultures of the country, thereby strengthening the spirit of “unity in diversity”.
He noted that on September 14, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union. Hindi Day, he said, is therefore an opportunity to take pride in India’s language, national identity and rich cultural heritage.
Quoting Bharatendu Harishchandra’s famous lines, “Nij bhasha unnati ahai, sab unnati ko mool,” the Chief Minister said that one’s own language is not merely a means of expression but also an important foundation for social and national progress. A society that preserves its language also safeguards its culture, heritage and identity.
Hindi Must Become Stronger in Technology and Digital Platforms
CM Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian culture, languages and traditions have received renewed recognition on global platforms. India is presenting its cultural identity and heritage to the world with confidence, he said.
He emphasized that the present era is driven by Artificial Intelligence, robotics, digital technology, research and innovation. Therefore, Hindi should not remain confined to books and classrooms but must also emerge as a strong and capable language of science, technology, research and the digital world.
The Chief Minister urged young people to learn new technologies and other languages while continuing to take pride in Hindi and their mother tongue. Technology, he said, should be effectively used to take Hindi to platforms across India and the world and to make knowledge and literature more accessible.
Uttarakhand’s Regional Languages and Literature are a Rich Heritage
The Chief Minister highlighted the close relationship between language and literature, observing that “if language is the body, literature is its soul.”
He said Uttarakhand has made significant contributions to Hindi and Indian literature. Rashtrakavi Sumitranandan Pant gave an immortal voice to the Himalayas and nature through his poetry, while Gaura Pant ‘Shivani’ brought the folk life and women’s consciousness of Uttarakhand to readers across the country. Poet Chandrakunwar Bartwal gave expression to the sensitivities of the Himalayas through his writings, while contemporary creators such as Prasoon Joshi continue this rich literary tradition.
CM Dhami said Uttarakhand’s identity is closely associated not only with Hindi but also with its rich regional languages and dialects. Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari, Bhotia, Tharu and Bangani, among others, are valuable components of the state’s cultural heritage.
He reiterated that the state government is committed to the preservation, promotion and recognition of Hindi as well as Uttarakhand’s regional languages, folk literature and writers.
Government Initiatives to Promote Literature
The Chief Minister said the state government has introduced several initiatives to encourage literary work and honour writers. Under the ‘Long-Term Literary Service Award’, writers who have devoted their lives to literature are provided an honorarium of ₹5 lakh.
Under the ‘Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman’, writers working in Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari, Punjabi, Urdu and other languages are being honoured. The ‘Sahitya Bhushan’ Award provides a cash honour of ₹5.51 lakh to distinguished writers.
He also highlighted initiatives to connect Hindi and regional languages with digital platforms, promote a culture of reading through campaigns such as ‘No Bouquets, Give Books’, and provide financial assistance to writers for publication of their works.
The Language Institute is also working towards collecting, preserving and publishing unpublished and scattered literary works of Uttarakhand, he added.
126 Students Honoured
As part of the Hindi Day celebrations, 126 students who won literary and creative writing competitions were honoured. The Chief Minister congratulated the students and said that the younger generation has a crucial role in carrying forward the country’s linguistic and literary heritage.
He encouraged students to actively contribute to the preservation and promotion of Hindi, their mother tongues, regional languages and literature.
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, MLAs Savita Kapoor and Umesh Sharma Kau, Prof. Jagat Singh Bisht, Language Department Secretary Umesh Narayan Pandey, Language Director Mayawati Dhakariyal, and other dignitaries were present at the event.
