IIT Delhi: An Effort to Provide Technical Education in Indian Languages

A high-level committee meeting was held at the IIT Delhi campus with the aim of promoting the availability of technical education in Indian languages. Dr. Neeraj Agarwal, Director of CIMAGE College, Patna, participated in the meeting as a subject matter expert. Dr. Agarwal has been working in this area for several years, especially for students who come from Hindi-medium backgrounds and are pursuing technical subjects like Computer Science or Management. He believes that if these students are provided with the fundamental understanding of their subjects in a simple and accessible manner, they can develop a deeper comprehension of the subject.

In line with this vision, CIMAGE Institute translated several books into Hindi, with each chapter including a summary in Hindi at the end and the objectives at the beginning. Dr. Agarwal mentioned that alumni of the institution often say that before their exams, they would read the Hindi summaries of their CIMAGE books, which helped them avoid rote learning. This effort not only helps students grasp the material better but also makes their learning process more effective.

During the meeting, there was extensive discussion on the creation and acceptance of technical terminology, digital content creation, translation, and the use of AI. Additionally, the availability of technical courses in regional languages like Maithili was also discussed. There was talk about how students from government schools can become AI programmers, startup founders, or data analysts. They can break free from the compulsion of English, acquire quality education in their regional languages, and, while learning English, excel without being dependent on it.

The committee members agreed that the importance and spread of education in Indian languages should be increased so that students can make the most of their potential, without the limitations of language. There is a need to move technical and professional education beyond the confines of English in India, and this initiative signals a positive change. It is hoped that appropriate steps will be taken in this direction, to usher in a new era in higher education, where Indian languages also hold equal significance.

CIMAGE Group of Colleges https://www.cimage.in/