Credit: Special arrangement
Mysuru: The Mysuru-based Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) has launched the Language Archive of India - Bhasha Sanchika, a platform to promote all 121 Indian languages digitally and globally.
The comprehensive digital language repository is a resource hub to document and preserve Indian languages and cultural heritage by promoting them digitally.
Dedicated to the public during CIIL's 57th foundation day in Mysuru on Thursday, it will function as a catalyst for research and education.
CIIL director Shailendra Mohan said, "Bhasha Sanchika marks a significant milestone in CIIL's ongoing efforts to safeguard India's linguistic diversity and to ensure that India's linguistic wealth thrives in the modern age."
"CIIL has been instrumental in advancing language development and research across India. It is working to foster linguistic harmony and promote the learning of Indian languages among non-native speakers," added Mohan.
Linguist D N Devy said, "This is an extremely important initiative. It was over due, and I welcome it. It will bring together several academic disciplines as well as several language technologies."
Bhasha Sanchika is developed using D-Space, an open-source digital asset management system.
The initiative aims at long-term preservation and storage of linguistic and cultural data and to ensure digital visibility of Indian languages and mother tongues. Providing access to linguistic content in multiple formats including text, image, audio and video, it supports the development of language technologies, pedagogical tools and linguistic resources.
Bhasha Sanchika houses a host of materials sourced by CIIL's schemes and projects including historic photographs, textual and audio-video language records, cultural documentaries, language and script tutorials, books, glossaries, dictionaries and textbooks.
The repository features content from CIIL's Classical Language Schemes and projects, reflecting the depth and diversity of India's linguistic traditions.