Starting off with the exciting news of a groundbreaking initiative by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), this article delves into the finer details of ‘The Language Friendship Bridge’. This project is envisioned to broaden our cultural imprint across neighboring countries, with whom India shares historical ties, through the translation of classics, epics and modern literature into these countries’ languages.
The Project: Bridging Cultures Through Language
Centering on fostering better people-to-people communication, The Language Friendship Bridge aims to develop a group of experts in languages spoken predominantly in countries such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Uzbekistan. The plan is to educate five to 10 individuals in the official languages of each of the said nations. To date, 10 languages have been selected by ICCR, namely Kazakh, Uzbek, Bhutanese, Ghoti (of Tibet), Burmese, Khmer (of Cambodia), Thai, Sinhalese and Bahasa (of both Indonesia and Malaysia). Despite several universities offering courses in these languages, only a few are currently teaching any of these languages from the ICCR list.
Significance of the Project
This initiative marks an important step forward in India’s foreign policy and cultural diplomacy. It will help cement India’s cultural and economic bonds with these nations by facilitating more effective communication. The ability to speak these languages fluently will pave the way for stronger ties with neighboring countries. In the current geopolitical setting, this is particularly critical as India aims to fortify its relations with nearby nations to counterbalance China’s surging influence in the region.
Unraveling ICCR
Founded in 1950 by India’s first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, ICCR is an autonomous governmental body under the purview of the Ministry of External Affairs. It fosters cultural diplomacy via cultural exchange with other countries. Since 2015, the council has been tasked with facilitating the International Day of Yoga celebrations through Indian Missions/Posts abroad. ICCR has initiated multiple awards to honor foreign nationals for their noteworthy contributions in various fields.
Challenges in Implementing the Project
A primary challenge this project faces is the scarcity of infrastructure and qualified teachers in India to instruct these languages. The project demands substantial investment in establishing language centers along with training educators to teach these languages effectively. Additionally, significant resources are required to offer scholarships to Indian students wishing to study these languages in their native countries. Another hurdle faced by the project is the need to expand the current language repertoire considering there are several adjacent nations that share substantial cultural and economic ties with India but whose languages aren’t currently included in the project.
Way Forward
Despite challenges, this project also presents an opportunity for India to strengthen its cultural and economic ties with neighboring nations while counteracting China’s growing influence in the region. Experts suggest expanding the ICCR’s language list as India experiences a burst in cultural and economic connections with other neighboring countries. For instance, due to the surge in medical tourism, there is a requirement for translators and interpreters to assist individuals from countries like Turkey, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Maldives. In response to this, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will be introducing a course in Pashto.