Imphal, September 18: Manipur University concluded Hindi Pakhwada 2026 with a closing ceremony organised by its Official Language Cell at the Court Hall on Friday. The fortnight, inaugurated on September 3, included competitions and activities aimed at encouraging the use of simple and practical Hindi in official work.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. R.K. Hemakumar Singh attended the closing ceremony as Chief Guest. Prof. Sagolsem Lanchenba Meetei, Dean of the School of Humanities, Dhanamanjuri University, was the Special Guest. Registrar Prof. Moirangthem Premjit Singh and Finance Officer Prof. Laishram Rajendrakumar Singh attended as Guests of Honour. The function was presided over by Prof. Soibam Jibonkumar Singh, former Dean of the School of Human and Environmental Sciences, Manipur University.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr Binita Akoijam, Assistant Director of the Official Language Cell, said the programme sought to encourage officers and employees to gradually increase the use of Hindi in their day-to-day official work.
She clarified that promoting Hindi did not mean replacing English or insisting on the exclusive use of one language. Employees, she said, could begin by using simple and commonly understood Hindi alongside English wherever possible while working towards the official-language targets prescribed by the Government of India.
Thirty participants took part in competitions that included self-composed Hindi poetry recitation, extempore speech, dictation, handwriting and Hindi proficiency tests. Seventeen participants were selected for consolation prizes.
The Official Language Cell also assessed the use of Hindi in official noting and drafting during the financial year 2025–26. Six entries were received in the category, from which three participants were selected for the first, second and third prizes. Consolation prizes were presented to the remaining participants.
A reference booklet prepared to make the use of Hindi in official work simpler and more convenient was also released during the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. R.K. Hemakumar Singh said the development of a language becomes meaningful when its use is not confined to formal celebrations but becomes part of everyday communication and official work. He said the use of simple and clear Hindi in University administration could improve the efficiency and effectiveness of official communication.
Prof. Sagolsem Lanchenba Meetei urged employees and students not to hesitate to speak Hindi because of concerns over grammar or pronunciation. A language could be learned only through regular use, he said, while highlighting the practical importance of Hindi for people from Manipur travelling to other parts of the country.
He also suggested that the University introduce an annual award for employees who make notable use of Hindi in official files and correspondence.
Registrar Prof. Moirangthem Premjit Singh said Hindi Pakhwada was not merely an occasion to hold language-related programmes but also an opportunity to review the use of Hindi in official work and find ways to take it forward.
He said using simple and familiar Hindi in letters, office orders, notices and official notes would help the University comply more effectively with the directions of the Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Finance Officer Prof. Laishram Rajendrakumar Singh said language served as a bridge connecting people from different regions and linguistic backgrounds. The use of simple language, he said, could make official communication easier and more accessible.
Presiding over the function, Prof. Soibam Jibonkumar Singh said fear of imperfect grammar should not prevent people from speaking Hindi. If speakers could understand one another, even functional or “working Hindi” served an important purpose, he said.
He recalled his own experiences of learning and using Hindi and supported the proposal to recognise employees who use the language more frequently in official work.
Prizes and certificates were distributed to the winners and participants during the closing ceremony. The speakers expressed hope that the interest generated during the fortnight would continue to be reflected in the University’s routine administrative work.
Hindi Pakhwada 2026 was inaugurated at Manipur University on September 3. The opening programme included a technical session in which Dr Irengbam Tilokchand Singh, Programmer at Manipur University, delivered a lecture on Hindi and artificial intelligence.
