Comments
At the Digital India dinner in San Jose, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that digital access also meant content should be available in local languages. In a country with 22 official languages, he added, this is a formidable but important task. It is comforting to see that the PM understands the enormity and relevance of language computing, and if he can match his words with action, India can witness a revolution in digital inclusion, transforming the way the public — especially those who are not rich and lack access to English — use electronic gadgets.
But that may well be wishful thinking, as things stand now. The focus of the Digital India mission seems to be the hardware, whereas what really matters is the software. Of course, building Wi-Fi spots and paving fibre networks do matter, but villagers — who better communicate in local languages — would benefit more if the gadgets and software they use speak their own language.
This is not happening now, primarily because local language computing is yet to find a place in policies. Further, the government, which can (and must) invest heavily into such ‘non-profitable’ causes, stays aloof. Yes, there are bhasha computing initiatives, most of which produce token results that do not benefit the public at large. The government should take more interest in software localisation, and recognise and promote communities that undertake such projects.
Today, several developers and volunteers spend precious spare time building local language computing tools. Some of such initiatives have contributed significantly. The Indic Keyboard for Android developed by the Swathanthra Malayalam Computing community is a great example. Currently, it supports 23 languages, including Assamese, Maithili and Sanskrit and more than 50 keyboard layouts. Sadly, the government ignores such efforts. This must change. The government should show the will to make language computing part of policy and support communities and companies that can make localisation a reality. The PM can start by asking Bill Gates to make Indic languages default in all MS products. That will be a great step towards digital inclusion.
Jinoy Jose P Senior Assistant Editor
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.