Lok Sabha Question No. 3968 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Programmes to Promote Local Dialects
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: MEENAKASHI LEKHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3968 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2017

## PROGRAMMES TO PROMOTE LOCAL DIALECTS

## 3968:  SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any programmes are being taken up to promote literature in local dialects of the country;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the dialects covered/proposed to be covered under these programmes?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

- (a) to (c):   Yes, Madam. Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous organisation under Ministry of Culture,  is  organising  many  programmes  to  promote  literature  in  local dialects of the country. Details of the programmes organized by the Sahitya Akademi during the past few years for the promotion of local dialects is as under:-
-  Adi  Language  Convention  on  6-7  April,  2013  at  Pasighat,  East  Siang, Arunachal Pradesh.
-  Warli Language Convention on 29-30 June, 2013 at Thane, Maharashtra.
-  Kumauni  Language  Convention  on  27-28  September,  2014  at  Almora, Uttarakhand.
-  Halbi Language Convention on 30-31 October, 2015 at Jagdalpur, Chattisgarh.
-  Literary Forum on Contribution of Oral Literature of Tribes to the Development of  the  Contemporary  Literature  of  the  Hmar,  Paite,  Tangkhul and Thadou Kuki languages on 11 May, 2016 at Canchipur, Manipur.
-  Seminar  on  The  Silence  of  Dying  Voices:  Literatures  on  the  Verge  of Extinction in India's North East and the World on 4-5 July, 2016 at Agartala, Tripura.
-  Literary  programme  on  types  and  varieties  of  Traditional  songs  of  four Tribes:  Lamkang, Tarao, Moyon and Monsang on 14 July, 2016 at Imphal, Manipur.
-  Literary  programme  on  types  and  varieties  of  Traditional  songs  of  four Tribes:  Inpui  Naga,  Koireng,  Aimol  and  Kom  on  15  July,  2016  at  Imphal, Manipur.
-  Literary  programme  on  types  and  varieties  of  Traditional  songs  of  four Tribes:  Koirao/Thangal,  Chothe  and  Kharam  on  16  July,  2016  at  Imphal, Manipur.
-  Seminar on Route to Oral Literature on 19-20 September, 2016 at Gangtok, Sikkim.
-  Literary Forum programme on Pena and Manipuri Literature on 12 November, 2016 at Agartala, Tripura.
-  Tribal  Writers'  Meet,  a  convention  of  writers  from  10  tribal  languages  of Odisha on 26-27 November, 2016 at Bhubaneswar.
-  Paite Language Convention on 22-23 January, 2017 at Imphal.
-  Workshop on Translating the Oral Resources of Some Oral Communities in North-East India on 24 & 25 February, 2017 at Shillong, Meghalaya.
-  Seminar on the Recent Trends in Tribal Literature of the North East on 28 February - 1 March 2017 at Tura, Meghalaya.

Besides  the  above  programmes,  the  Akademi  has  also  documented  the  oral  and tribal  literature  of  the  country  by  publishing  the  translations  of  these  literatures  in  the recognized languages of the Akademi.

The Akademi has also instituted Bhasha Samman in 1996 to be given to writers, scholars,  editors,  collectors,  performers  or  translators  who  have  made  considerable contribution to the propagation, modernization or enrichment of the languages concerned. So far the Akademi has awarded its Bhasha Samman in various unrecognized languages like Kokborok, Kumauni, Pahari, Bhojpuri, Tulu, Bhili, Ladakhi, Gojri, Magahi, Chattisgarhi, Gondi,  Himachli,  Avadhi,  Kachchi,  Khasi,  Mizo,  Garo,  Lepcha,  Warli,  Banjara,  Ho,  Karbi, Angami (Tenyidie), Ao, Chakma, Mising, Adi etc.

The  Akademi  also  regularly  organized  seminars/symposiums  in  the  Unwritten Languages of India and recently a book of seminar papers, presented during one of the above  seminar  was  brought  out  by  the  Akademi.  The  Akademi  did  research  and documented the oral and tribal literature available in Toda language and would bring out the same in a book form very soon.

Besides  the  above  activities,  the  Akademi  regularly  invites  the  writers/  scholars from the un-recognised languages in different literary programmes, organized in different parts  of  the  country  to  nurture  and  cherish  the  deep  socio-cultural  bonds  between different Indian languages and people.

****