Hindi is symbol of Indian social and cultural unity: President

Bhopal: President Shri Pranab Mukherjee has said that success of social welfare and development works depends on language. Hindi is symbol of Indian social and cultural unity. Hindi has significant contribution in uniting the country. Universities in the country should launch campaign to establish moral values and develop innovative culture. Shri Mukherjee was addressing the foundation-laying ceremony of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi Vishwavidyalaya here today. Governor Shri Ram Naresh Yadav and Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan were specially present at the function.
President Shri Mukherjee said that technical education through Hindi medium is a good initiative. Congratulating Madhya Pradesh government for setting up Hindi Vishwavidylaya, he noted that it has been named after senior leader and scholar Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee who has played important role in promoting Hindi language. The President hoped that this university will follow great ideals of Shri Vajpayee and promote Hindi and other regional languages.
Shri Mukherjee said that Hindi is becoming popular in other countries also. Teaching in technical courses need to be imparted through Hindi medium. Education has a significant role in development of society and country. Expressing concern over rising crimes against women and children, he said that the universities should launch campaign to establish moral values. The country needs such youths today who love their country and discharge their responsibilities with truth and honesty. Emphasis will have to be laid on higher education to take country ahead on path of development. There are 7 percent highly educated youths in the country against 35 percent in Japan and 31 percent in USA. There are 2 crore 60 lakh students in our higher education institutions. Even then, there are places where there is no higher education institution. New techniques will have to be used to cover these areas.
President Shri Mukherjee said that there was a time when students from all over the world used to come to India to pursue education in universities like Takshshila, Nalanda and Vikram Shila. India was ahead of all countries in higher education till 13th century. Special steps should be initiated by universities to improve quality of higher education. Attention should be paid to motivate students to adopt innovations. Decade 2010-2020 has been declared as Decade of Innovations. Its objectives include innovation of techniques useful for common people and promote technical guidance. Role of universities is important in this.
Governor Shri Ram Naresh Yadav said that Hindi Vishwavidyalaya will be of its own kind in the world. Hindi unites the country. It is the language of heartland of India. Hindi Vishwavidyalaya will become a link for exchanging knowledge with best universities of the world. There will be arrangements here to teach all important languages of the world. The university will have a big linguistics institute. Books on technical and other subjects will be published in Hindi. A separate institution will be set up for publication and translation. The university will do the work of disseminating knowledge to masses through Hindi medium. In our country, ideological changes have been brought about by folk languages. Hindi is the biggest folk language. Initiative will also be taken to teach languages. Besides, work culture promotion course will also be introduced. Arrangements will also be made at the university for research on ideologies, philosophies and cultures of coastal states of the country.
Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that he has fulfilled one of his resolves and realised a dream today. He said that only 2 percent people speak English in Hindi-speaking states. Talented students will not be allowed to lag behind due to lack of English knowledge. He said that students of Hindi-speaking states lag behind only due to lack of knowledge in English. It is necessary to promote Hindi for natural growth of children. No child will be allowed to lag behind. He said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee Vishwavidyalaya will play an important role in this. Here all subjects will be taught in Hindi medium.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Smt. Sushma Swaraj said that the university will have to take responsibility of three things. It have to add to the glory of Hindi, make available literature of Indian languages in Hindi and Hindi literature in other Indian languages and preserve purity of Hindi. It will have to prepare comparisons between Hindi and other languages.
Higher Education Minister Shri Laxmikant Sharma said that academic activities have started in the university. Citing reasons behind naming it after Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said that Shri Vajpayee has glorified Hindi and established it at global-level. Shri Sharma said that prosperity and development is possible through Hindi language. Describing about speech of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Parliament, Vice-Chancellor of Vishwavidyalaya Shri Mohanlal Chheepa expected cooperation from the Union Government for the university. He also threw light on preliminary academic activities of the Vishwavidyalaya.
On the occasion, a photo exhibition showcasing personality of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also put up. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan inspected it.
Union Minister of State Shri Narayan Sami, MP and former CM Shri Kailash Joshi, former Union Minister Shri Suresh Pachouri. Chief Secretary Shri R. Parasuram, vice-chancellors of universities and students were present on the occasion.