UGC holds review meeting of Bharatiya Bhasha Samvardhan Samiti

Ganderbal, Sep 28: A review meeting of the Bharatiya Bhasha Samvardhan Samiti-II (BBSS-II) for Kashmiri was held in virtual mode on Friday.

The meeting was convened by Dr Archana Thakur, Joint Secretary of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The meeting commenced with remarks from Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir and Nodal Officer for BBSS-II (Kashmiri), who welcomed the attendees and outlined the session’s objectives.

The Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, established under NEP 2020, promotes the development of over 270 Indian languages in education by creating textbooks, integrating technology, and making content more accessible. It encourages collaboration across sectors, aims to improve learning through native languages, and celebrates Bharatiya Bhasha Divas annually to explore employment opportunities for language students. BBSS-II will identify potential authors for writing textbooks in Kashmiri and coordinate with the UGC to ensure the development of quality learning materials. This initiative aims to strengthen the use of Kashmiri as a medium of instruction in higher education and preserve the region’s linguistic heritage.

Addressing the participants, Deepak Shrivastav, Vice-Chairperson of the UGC, emphasised the importance of promoting the Kashmiri language in educational institutions throughout Jammu and Kashmir. He reiterated the objectives of BBSS-II, which include developing curriculum frameworks for Kashmiri language and literature, as well as preserving Kashmiri cultural heritage through language, literature, and art. Shrivastav noted that these goals align with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, adding that the “UGC is committed to promoting India’s rich linguistic diversity, with the Kashmiri language being an integral part.”

Vice-Chancellors from various universities participated in the meeting, seeking clarifications and engaging with the UGC leadership. In addition to Dr. Chandan Srivastav from the BBS UGC team, the meeting was also attended by Prof. Sandhya Tiwari, Nodal University Coordinator, and other member university coordinators.

During the meeting, it was discussed that the next steps would involve preparing a template for book proposals, identifying potential authors, and soliciting proposals. Additionally, efforts will focus on developing learning materials and resources for the Kashmiri language. Workshops and events will be organized to guide authors, and there will be collaboration with educational institutions to integrate Kashmiri into their curricula.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with Dr. Archana Thakur affirming UGC’s commitment to support initiatives that preserve and promote Indian languages, including Kashmiri, as part of BBSS-II activities.