Active measures on to make Hindi one of UN official languages: SM Krishna

Minister for external affairs SM Krishna on Wednesday said that the government of India has been taking active measures to make Hindi one of the official languages of the United Nations.

The UN has six official languages, which are English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic.

Responding to a question through a written reply, Krishna today informed the Lok Sabha that a high level committee under the chairmanship of the external affairs minister was constituted on February 26, 2003. “This was followed by a sub-committee set up under the chairmanship of the minister of state for external affairs in August 2003 to examine this matter and take necessary measures.”

He said keeping in mind this objective, the 8th World Hindi Conference was organized and its inaugural session held at the UN Headquarters in New York on July 13, 2007. The UN secretary general Ban ki-Moon addressed the inaugural session.

Krishna further said that additionally, on several occasions Indian leaders have delivered statements at the UN in Hindi.

Necessary arrangements were made for simultaneous interpretation of these statements in English by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York.

“Government of India's sustained efforts have also ensured that the United Nations produces a weekly programme in Hindi and makes it available on the UN Radio Website in Hindi,” Krishna informed.  

He also informed the House that the World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius has started functioning with effect from 11 February 2008. The main objective of the World Hindi Secretariat is to promote Hindi as an international language and further its cause for recognition at the United Nations as an Official Language.

The Secretariat has a Governing Council and an Executive Board and is headed by a Secretary General, he added.

“Indian Embassies/Missions abroad play an important role in the promotion of use of Hindi. Various Hindi programmes are organized in Embassies / Missions abroad. Support is also given to the educational and cultural institutions in the host countries by the Indian Missions/Posts abroad for promotion of the official language,” he further informed.