In the heart of India, where the ancient and the modern coexist, a remarkable event unfolded. On the lush, verdant campus of BITS Pilani in Goa, a meeting of minds took place that could reshape the future of technical education in India. This was no ordinary gathering, but a meeting of the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), Ministry of Education, Government of India, a government initiative dedicated to translating technical terms of various academic subjects into eighth scheduled modern Indian languages.
The K. K. Birla Goa Campus of BITS Pilani, nestled on the banks of the Zuari River, is a beacon of academic excellence and innovative research. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure and commitment to sustainability, it was the perfect venue for this significant event. The CSTT, established in 1961, has been a long-standing initiative of the Government of India. CSTT has mandate to evolve standard technical terminology in various academic subjects in the 8th scheduled modern Indian languages. The meeting was convened to translate and create fundamental glossary in Konkani for Mathematics, a testament to the commission’s ongoing commitment to linguistic diversity in technical education.
Vijay Raj Singh Shekhawat, Assistant Director, CSTT Ministry of Education and Officer in-charge for this project of Preparation of Fundamental Glossary of Mathematics (English-Hindi-Konkani), has given a brief about the functions of CSTT and the ongoing project. Coordinator of the meeting, Prof. J. K Sahoo, Head Department of Mathematics, BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus welcomed all the members and officials on behalf of BITS Pilani, the ten-member committee was veritable who’s who of academic and linguistic expertise. The members, including Prof. Tarkeshwar Singh, Prof. J. K. Sahoo, Venkatesh Prabhu, Dr. Jessica Pereira, Dr. Himadri Mukherjee, Dr. Dyaneshwar Patil, Brandon Fernandes, Dr. Prakash Parienkar, Anand Masur, Dr. Bhushan Bhave brought to the table their knowledge in various field of Mathematics, linguistics, Sanskrit and Konkani Language. Their linguistic proficiency spanned Sanskrit, Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, Rajasthani, Odia, Bengali, French, and English.
Under the watchful eye of Shekhawat, the committee deliberated on each of the 3600 technical words listed for translation from English to Konkani during this Expert Advisory Committee five days meeting from 27th June to 1st July 2023. The discussions were not just about translation but also about understanding the nuances of each term in the context of Konkani languages and technical fields.
This initiative by the Indian government, conducted at the BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, underscores the importance of linguistic diversity in the realm of technical education. By translating technical terms into regional vernaculars, the CSTT is making strides in making education more accessible and inclusive, fostering a culture of learning that transcends linguistic barriers.
