One-Day International Conference on Global Impact and Acceptance of Nagari Script
The Department of Hindi at Chevalier T. Thomas Elizabeth College for Women (CTTE), Perambur, Chennai, in collaboration with the Nagari Lipi Parishad and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), organized a One-Day International Conference on 19th August 2025. The event served as a distinguished platform that brought together eminent academicians, cultural historians, literary scholars, and students to reflect on the historical, linguistic, and cultural significance of Hindi and the Devanagari script in a rapidly globalizing world.
The strength of the conference lay in its international reach, with distinguished participation from Australia, Mauritius, and the Netherlands, alongside national representation from Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Lucknow, Maharashtra, and Nagaland, as well as state-level contributions from Kerala and Chennai. This diversity of voices reinforced the global relevance of Hindi and its enduring role in shaping intercultural dialogue and national identity.
The inaugural session commenced with an invocation by second-year Hindi students, followed by a formal welcome address delivered by Dr. A. Thasleem Banu, Assistant Professor of Hindi. She emphasized the academic and cultural importance of the conference and introduced the distinguished guests whose erudition enriched the deliberations.
Dr. Rama Takshak, Senior Rachnakar and Adhyaksh of the Saajha Sansaar Foundation, delivered the keynote address on “The History of Hindi in the Netherlands.” He traced the diasporic journey of Hindi through an Italian manuscript (1583–1588) from Cochin that preserved traces of Devanagari, linking the script to early European encounters with India. Highlighting the Bhojpuri-speaking Suri community’s efforts to sustain their linguistic identity, he emphasized the resilience of Hindi abroad. He also reflected on media initiatives such as OHM Hindi Channel and Ujala Radio, which popularized Hindi among wider audiences. Concluding his talk, Dr. Takshak stressed the significance of the earliest Hindi grammar books in the Netherlands as a vital intersection of European scholarship and Indic traditions.
Dr. Hari Singh Pal, General Minister of the Nagari Lipi Parishad, New Delhi, served as the Chief Guest. His scholarly remarks illuminated the deep interconnections between Hindi and Tamil, situating both within the larger civilizational framework of India’s linguistic heritage. He lauded Tamil as one of the world’s most ancient languages while emphasizing the unifying role of Hindi. Drawing upon historical examples, he recalled the establishment of the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha under Devdas Gandhi’s stewardship, which cemented Hindi’s pedagogical presence in South India. He further referenced “Pehli Hindi Pustak” authored by Satyadev of Haridwar in 1918, which became a seminal milestone in Hindi grammar. His address highlighted the need for linguistic inclusivity and the preservation of India’s pluralistic identity through both Hindi and Tamil.
Dr. Rajalakshmi Krishnan, In-charge of the Nagari Lipi Parishad, Tamil Nadu Branch, contributed a thought-provoking analysis of the structural and functional dimensions of language. She emphasized that the written form of a language holds an enduring legacy distinct from its spoken form, situating Devanagari as a cornerstone of linguistic continuity. Her assertion that “Without a national language, a nation is like a mute being” underscored the importance of collective linguistic identity for cultural sovereignty.
International speaker Ms. Sunitha Sharma (Australia) enriched the discourse by situating Hindi within the framework of diaspora literature (Pravasi Sahitya). She highlighted Bharat Darshan, the first Hindi magazine launched in New Zealand, as a pioneering diasporic cultural initiative. She further underscored the growing digital footprint of Hindi through global online competitions, virtual conferences, and cultural programming, demonstrating how technology is revitalizing Hindi’s presence across borders. Her address affirmed that Nagari Lipi is a script deeply rooted in India’s cultural ethos.
Dr. Rashmi Choubey (Ghaziabad) advanced the dialogue by stressing the inclusive and pedagogical dimensions of Devanagari. She emphasized its utility in fostering literacy among visually challenged learners and its capacity to promote national integration across India’s diverse linguistic landscape. By positioning Devanagari as both accessible and unifying, she highlighted its dual role in pedagogy and nation-building.
Mr. Ajay Kumar Ojha, Supreme Court lawyer from Delhi, provided a personal yet profound reflection on intergenerational literary heritage. He described his father’s literary contributions in Hindi, spanning poetry and prose, and his own efforts to revive, annotate, and republish them. His testimony underscored the enduring vitality of Hindi literature as both a familial and civilizational legacy.
The academic richness of the conference was further enhanced by research paper presentations from faculty and students. Their work reflected diverse perspectives on Hindi pedagogy, literary criticism, cultural history, and scriptural studies, underscoring the interdisciplinary vibrancy of Hindi scholarship. Among the presenters, Ms. Aarthy, II Year B.Com (A/F) and Secretary of the Hindi Department, contributed a noteworthy paper, representing the active role of students in advancing literary discourse.
The conference emerged as a confluence of scholarship, cultural dialogue, and global exchange. By integrating perspectives from history, linguistics, diaspora literature, and pedagogy, the One-Day International Conference reaffirmed Hindi’s role as a language of communication, a vehicle of cultural identity, a medium of academic inquiry, and a catalyst of national unity.
