KKHSOU Marks Hindi Diwas, Emphasises India’s Multilingual Heritage

Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University ( KKHSOU ) observed Hindi Diwas on Monday with a programme that focused on the importance of Hindi and the need to preserve India's linguistic and cultural diversity. The programme brought together university authorities, faculty members, learners and guests, who discussed the role of Hindi in a multilingual country and the importance of respecting and preserving different Indian languages. The programme began with a welcome address by Dr Tinku Chetry, Assistant Professor, Discipline of Hindi, Padmanath Gohain Baruah School of Humanities. She highlighted the significance of Hindi in India's social and cultural life and recalled September 14, 1949, when Hindi was accorded constitutional recognition as the Raj Bhasha of the Union. Dr Prasenjit Das, in his address, spoke about the role of Hindi in India's multilingual setting and stressed that the growth of one Indian language should not be viewed as being at the expense of another. He also referred to the presence of Hindi in cinema and music and highlighted the emphasis placed on Indian languages under the National Education Policy 2020. Delivering the keynote address, Dainik Purvoday Editor-in-Chief Ravi Shankar Ravi spoke about his experiences of reporting from different parts of the Northeast and said Hindi should not be imposed on people but should be learnt voluntarily. He referred to the linguistic diversity of the Northeast and cited Mizoram , where Mizo is taught as a compulsory language up to Class IX. He said Hindi could serve as a means of communicating the region's cultures, literature, folk traditions and environmental knowledge to wider audiences without undermining local languages. Ravi also highlighted the challenges of translating words and cultural expressions from one language to another. Referring to the Assamese word "Khilonjiya", he said some cultural meanings cannot always be fully conveyed through direct translation. He also cautioned against relying uncritically on Artificial Intelligence for translating local languages into Hindi, saying such translations could miss cultural nuances. Ravi further highlighted the practical use of Hindi in sectors such as tourism , where it can help people communicate across different linguistic regions. Vice Chancellor of KKHSOU Dr Rajendra Prasad Das also addressed the gathering and stressed the importance of learning and speaking languages with confidence. He said linguistic plurality should be viewed as a strength in a country as diverse as India. The formal proceedings were followed by a cultural programme featuring literary and artistic performances. The event concluded with a valedictory address by Dr Ujjwal Deka Baruah, who thanked the guests, faculty members, learners, performers and organisers for their participation. The programme highlighted the importance of promoting Hindi while ensuring that India's other languages and cultural traditions continue to be respected and preserved. Also Read: KKHSOU Observes National Sports Day 2026 Across Assam