#WorldHindiDay2024 #HeritageEntrepreneurs #VocalForLocalBusiness #WomenInBusiness #MakeInIndiaSpirit
On a fairytale note, once upon a time, on the 10th of January, the world celebrated a language that transcends borders and connects hearts – World Hindi Day. The roots of this celebration can be traced back to the ‘Orange City’ – Nagpur, Maharashtra, where the inaugural World Hindi Conference in 1975 planted the seeds of a linguistic celebration.
As the years unfolded, the significance of ‘Hindi’ in bridging traditional knowledge and the digital realm took center-stage at the World Hindi Day 2024 conference. The theme, “Hindi – Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence,” promised a celebration that delved into the richness of the language and its adaptability in the modern world, which has evolved into innovation and AI.
The history of World Hindi Day is entwined with India’s journey toward linguistic inclusivity. Hindi, standing proudly as one of India’s official languages since 1949, carries the legacy of Beohar Rajendra Simha’s 50th birthday, a milestone year in the language’s recognition.
In a country adorned with a tapestry of languages, the choice of Hindi as an official language marked a pivotal moment. While some advocated for Hindi as the national language due to its widespread use, the constitutional drafting committee opted to designate it as an official language. This decision resonates today, where Hindi, along with 21 others, holds official status in India.
However, the tale of Hindi goes beyond borders. Globally, approximately 4.46% of people converse in Hindi. While it stands as the fourth most spoken language by native speakers, its official recognition by the United Nations remains pending, despite the Indian government’s persistent efforts since 2015.
In the grand narrative of India’s independence, the swadeshi movement emerged as a beacon of self-reliance. Fast forward 73 years, and the spirit of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat,’ endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has rekindled the flame of the ‘swadeshi’ movement. The rallying cry of ‘vocal for local’ resonates not just in rhetoric but in the entrepreneurial endeavors that have blossomed in response.
Amidst these winds of change, women entrepreneurs have emerged as torchbearers of the swadeshi spirit. With consumer preferences tilting toward indigenous products and services, women-led startups are stepping into the limelight. The corridors of entrepreneurship are witnessing a surge in businesses championing the ‘Made in India’ ethos.
World Hindi Day, therefore, becomes not just a celebration of a language but a testament to the resilience of cultural heritage and its profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape. In the heart of this celebration, women entrepreneurs are crafting success stories that echo the spirit of self-reliance and global connection that World Hindi Day embodies.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
Poonam Sinha
