Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!š Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: The Central University of Jammu, in collaboration with the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, Ministry of Education, Government of India, inaugurated a two-day state-level workshop aimed at strengthening and enriching capacity building among teachers through Indian languages. The initiative was undertaken under the guidance and leadership of the Honāble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sanjeev Jain.
The workshop will conclude on November 3, 2026. A total of seven sessions will be conducted over the two days, during which subject experts from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will share their experiences and expertise. The deliberations will focus on developing a comprehensive framework for the preparation of academic and learning materials for higher education in Indian languages.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. Vishal Sharma, Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh, as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished dignitaries present on the dais included Prof. Virender Kundal from the University of Jammu and State Coordinator of the workshop; Prof. Yashwant Singh, Registrar, Central University of Jammu; Prof. Ritu Bakshi, Dean Studentsā Welfare; and Prof. Bharat Bhushan, Dean, School of Languages. The dignitaries formally inaugurated the workshop by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
Welcoming the guests, Prof. Virender Kundal highlighted the objectives and significance of the workshop. He observed that the education policies adopted after independence, which accorded considerable prominence to the English language, had, to some extent, limited the educational aspirations of Indian youth. In particular, the extensive use of English in higher education has prevented a large section of India's youth from accessing quality higher education, thereby affecting the social and economic development of several regions of the country.
He emphasized that India is a multilingual nation, with 22 languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. He stated that establishing an effective system of education through these 22 languages could significantly contribute to the country's overall development. He further noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has initiated important measures through the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti to promote higher education in Indian languages. The workshop, he said, would provide a meaningful platform for extensive deliberations on strategies and methodologies for developing quality academic content in Indian languages.
In his address, Chief Guest Prof. Vishal Sharma emphasized that language is the primary medium through which knowledge is acquired and understood, and that a deeper understanding of knowledge is possible when it is imparted through one's mother tongue. He observed that one of the major reasons education in India has not yet become universally accessible is the reliance on foreign languages as the medium of instruction.
He highlighted that the fundamental objective of the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana is to make textbooks available to students in Indian languages, thereby making education more inclusive and universally accessible. He explained that knowledge can broadly be classified into two categoriesāShastra Gyan (traditional and textual knowledge) and Lok Gyan (traditional and indigenous knowledge). He stressed the need to enrich and disseminate both these forms of knowledge through India's rich linguistic heritage so that every citizen can enjoy equal opportunities in education.
Prof. Sharma further clarified that a lack of proficiency in English does not indicate a lack of intellectual ability. He emphasized that promoting education in Indian languages does not imply opposition to the English language; rather, it represents an effort to strengthen the availability of knowledge and educational opportunities through Indian languages. Highlighting the key objectives of the initiative, he stressed the importance of making knowledge across diverse academic disciplines accessible in Indian languages, ensuring equal educational opportunities, and preserving and promoting India's linguistic heritage.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Yashwant Singh, Registrar, Central University of Jammu, emphasized the urgent need to empower India's youth in diverse fields, including research, innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), law, science, and technology, in line with global developments. He stated that imparting education through Indian languages is an important means of achieving this objective. He further observed that the Government of India, through the National Education Policy, has accorded priority to education in indigenous languages, which will ensure a wider presence and greater acceptance of Indian languages across various academic and professional domains.
Prof. Bharat Bhushan, Dean, School of Languages, expressed his gratitude to the intellectuals, linguists, academicians, and subject experts representing various universities and colleges from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for their participation and valuable contribution to the workshop.
On the occasion, the Chief Guest, Prof. Vishal Sharma, along with Prof. Dhruv Kandpal, who attended from the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi, and Prof. Virender Kundal, was felicitated with mementoes as a mark of respect and appreciation.
The inaugural programme was conducted by Dr. Vandana Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Hindi. The ceremony concluded with the rendition of the National Anthem.
The workshop marks an important step towards strengthening multilingual higher education, promoting knowledge creation in Indian languages, and realizing the vision of the National Education Policy 2020 for inclusive, accessible, and equitable education across the country.
