ALIGARH, September 15: The Official Language Hindi Implementation Committee and Hindi Department of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) today organized the Hindi Week celebrations at the Faculty of Arts auditorium.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Soma Bandyopadhyay, Vice Chancellor, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education University, Kolkata (West Bengal), said that one’s own language is like mother’s milk, which has no substitute. She emphasized that in any critical situation, a person naturally turns to their mother tongue, which always plays a unifying role. Prof. Bandyopadhyay remarked that both AMU and BASEU represent “Mini India” in terms of linguistic diversity. She further said that Hindi is not opposed to any language but rather carries all languages along with it.
Chief Guest, AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon, said that “a beautiful language is one that conveys the feelings of the heart to others.” Stressing the unity of languages, she noted that “the history of AMU is the history of multilingual, multi-religious, and multi-intellectual traditions. At the vibrant campus of AMU, the refined culture of Urdu, the affectionate simplicity of Hindi, the global outlook of English, and the scholarship of Arabic and Persian breathe together.” She added that this is the spirit of our university, which teaches us that “language is not a wall but a bridge; not a lock of identity, but a key to dialogue.”
Prof. Khatoon further observed that with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, data, and digital humanities opening new horizons of knowledge, the role of language has become even deeper. She said, “Technology sensitive to meaning will only be ethical when it learns from our ground languages. Therefore, our aim is not just to increase the use of Hindi but to develop a new word culture in Hindi for modernity, science, and innovation.”
Welcoming the guests, Prof. Tasneem Suhail, Chairperson, Department of Hindi, outlined the week-long programmes and said that Hindi is not merely a language but the soul of our identity and culture. “The Hindi Implementation Committee is committed to keeping this soul alive in administration and culture,” she added.
Presiding over the function, Prof. T. N. Satheesan, Dean, Faculty of Arts, said that the Hindi Week will prove to be a milestone for a multilingual, multicultural, and truly inclusive academic community. He pointed out that in a central university like AMU, where students, teachers, and staff come from all states of India and several countries, the role of Hindi becomes even more significant. “Here, languages meet, ideas blend, and cultures interact. In this vibrant environment, Hindi can act as a common thread that facilitates dialogue, strengthens mutual understanding, and fosters harmony,” he said.
The programme was conducted by convenor, Dr. Pankaj Parashar, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. Meraj Ahmad. On the occasion, AMU Proctor Prof. Wasim Ali, Prof. Rizwan Khan, Prof. Shafey Kidwai, Prof. M. Ashiq Ali, and Prof. Sarika Varshney, along with a large number of teachers and students, were present.
Competitions during the week will include essay writing, official letter drafting, a technical terminology quiz, extempore speech, and other activities.
Public Relations Office
Aligarh Muslim University