Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today formally released Science magazine in Hindi,Urdu and English and announced that the Dogri and Kashmiri versions of the same , along with other vernacular versions, will be released soon.
While the Hindi and English versions are based on the theme “Dream 2047” referring to the 100th year of India’s independence, the Urdu version is named Tajassus (Curiosity) and was prepared in association with Central University of Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that Kashmiri, Dogri, Kashmiri and other vernacular versions of the magazine will be released very soon and observed that communication science in mother tongue is a priority for the Modi government.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always pitched for using vernacular languages in promoting science communication in a “big way” to develop “love of science” in the youth and underlined that language should not be a barrier but a facilitator.
Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on 15th August this year, Dr Jitendra Singh said National Education Policy 2020 laid emphasis on the importance of education in mother tongue for poor children. He quoted Modi as saying, “there is a massive divide in our country regarding language and this cage of language has tied a huge talent. If people from the vernacular medium come forward, their self-confidence will grow”.
He said, promoting Science communication and education in Indian languages is one of the key focuses of the present government and the efforts are on to make available science textbooks in vernacular languages to the students, He said, a group of resource persons has been tasked in this mission.
Dr Jitendra Singh expressed happiness that Department of Science and technology has come out with these periodicals in association with the Central University of Kashmir and the Kashmir University. He said, the launch of these periodicals is not an isolated affair and it must be seen in the light of ambitious schemes of Modi Government like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India.
The Minister said, when the most advanced countries like Russia, Japan, Germany and China can have the best of science literature and projects in their mother tongues, India has also taken the lead to communicate modern science and technology in all the Indian languages. He said, our learning becomes deeper when we study in our mother tongue.
Dr Jitendra Singh complimented the Department of Science and Technology and the Central University of Kashmir for creating a platform for producing science literature for the general public in Urdu and said that soon science popularization , communication and extension publications in Kashmiri and Dogri would commence along with other Indian languages.