Nalanda University makes case for Hindi as UN official language, ETEducation
Patna: Nalanda University on Saturday concluded its two-day national conference on “Promotion of Hindi and global dialogue”, positioning itself as a key academic platform for structured debate on the inclusion of Hindi as an official language of the United Nations.
The concluding day saw intensive deliberations during the fifth session on the contribution of higher educational institutions and the sixth session on the role of Hindi-promoting institutions. Speakers underlined the collective responsibility of universities, cultural bodies and policy-oriented institutions in strengthening Hindi’s global footprint.
The final academic session focused on “Hindi as an official language of the United Nations: A proposed road map”. The session featured a detailed presentation by Vinod Kumar Mishra, former secretary general of the World Hindi Secretariat, Mauritius. Shiv Kumar Singh of the University of Lisbon strongly articulated arguments in favour of establishing Hindi as a language of the United Nations.
Participants traced the evolution of the UN’s official languages, from the five languages adopted in 1945 to the inclusion of Arabic in 1973, saying that sustained diplomacy, financial commitment and multilateral consensus had enabled such transitions. This experience, speakers said, offered a valuable reference point for Hindi.
The discourse also highlighted Hindi’s expanding global presence across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian diaspora, alongside its demographic strength, technological reach and cultural influence. Special emphasis was laid on the ‘Hindi @ UN’ initiative, which already enables Hindi content across UN digital platforms, radio and news services, creating a de facto presence within the UN system.
Addressing the conference, vice-chancellor Sachin Chaturvedi said, “The recognition of Hindi as an official language of the United Nations is not merely a question of linguistic pride. It represents India’s civilisational presence and growing intellectual confidence. Achieving this objective requires sustained institutional preparedness and a long-term strategic approach. With the rising importance of the Global South, this proposal acquires even greater relevance in the contemporary global order.”
On the sidelines, Nalanda University and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, signed a memorandum of understanding at the university’s roundtable conference hall to strengthen academic and intellectual collaboration. The MoU was signed by Professor Sachin Chaturvedi and Professor WD Negi, vice chancellor of CIHTS, to promote academic and research exchange, foster dialogue between knowledge traditions and advance interdisciplinary cooperation.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing Hindi as a language of global governance, diplomacy, knowledge production and cultural dialogue, rooted in Nalanda’s historic legacy as a centre of transnational learning.
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