Thursday, June 09, 2005

Hindi and other Indian languages readership growing fast


Dainik Jagran with a readership of 21.12 million has toppled Dainik Bhaskar to be the most read newspaper in the country, according to the National Readership Study (NRS) 2005. Dainik Bhaskar has a readership of 17.37 million, followed by Eenadu (11.34 million).

Hindustan, Amar Ujala, Daily Thanti, Lokmat, Rajasthan Patrika, Times of India and Anand Bazar Patrika were the others that figured in the Top 10 list.

Dainik Jagran had an urban readership of 10.46 million, followed by Dainik Bhaskar (9.70 million). Third in line was Times of India with a readership of 7.29 million. Amar Ujala, Daily Thanti, Lokmat, Gujarat Samachar, Anand Bazar Patrika, Hindustan and Eenadu were the others who joined the Top 10 list.

A noteworthy point here is that Dainik Jagran, which is ruling the roost at present, has benefited from the drastically changing environment in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand where the literacy rate has grown the most when compared to the other parts of the country. Almost 2.7 million people in urban UP and 8.4 million people in rural UP can read and understand Hindi.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

अपना गिरेबान

जितनी जल्दी हमारे व्यापारियों को यह समझ में आ जाए, उतना ही उनका भला होगा. विडम्बना है कि गंगा उल्टी बही यानी इससे पहले कि हम अपने देशी उपभोक्ताओं की पुकार सुनते, हम बाकी दुनिया का सहायता-केन्द्र यानी कॉल सेंटर बनने लगे. पर अब हमें ऐसी चीज़ों की आदत सी हो गई है. विडम्बनाएँ हमारे लिए अपवाद कम नियम ज़्यादा बन गईं हैं. पर जो भी हो, आखिर गंगा को सीधा बहना ही था. देरी और प्रतीक्षा बस इसकी थी कि कब हमारे व्यापारी, उत्पादक और सेवाप्रदाता बाकी दुनिया के सेवा-स्तर तक पहुँचें और अपने उपभोक्ताओं की सुध लें. लगता है कि कुछ को सद्बुद्धि आई है. टाइम्स आफ़ इंडिया लिखता है:

Call centres in the city are on the lookout for candidates who have command over their native language, be it Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Oriya, Malyalam, Telugu or Punjabi. Ranjeet P, director of one such outsourcing company in the city, says, the trend can be attributed to the fact that after catering to clients from abroad, call centres are spreading their web across the country to bolster domestic business. 'We do a lot of back office work for domestic companies. Many of these companies based in other parts of the country look for people who can speak their regional language because it helps in better understanding their requirements.' Umesh Patwardhan, assistant manager with another call centre, explains that people who have a command over a regional language, besides English and Hindi, can really rake a moolah. 'When you are in a business that depends so much on what and how you speak, it becomes important that you hire people who understand a language well. Local lingo, makes your job much easier,' Patwardhan goes on.


मेरे विचार से, सहायता सेवाओं और आन्तरिक काम-काज निष्पादन (back office processing) कम्पनियों का भविष्य और फ़ायदा अपने गिरेबान में झाँकने में निहित है. लम्बी अवधि में अपने देश के व्यापार से ही उनकी रोजी-रोटी चलनी है. दुनिया का बैक-ऑफ़िस बनना अल्पकालिक फ़ायदा है, जो कि कभी भी कोई दूसरा सस्ता और अधिक आकर्षक स्थान हमसे छीन सकता है (चीन, ताइवान, फ़िलिपीन पहले ही तैयारी कर रहे हैं). इन सेवा-प्रदाता कम्पनियों को अपने घर की ओर देखना चाहिए क्योंकि यहाँ न केवल अपार संभावनाएँ हैं बल्कि भविष्य के लिए एक विशेष सुरक्षा भी है. भारतीय भाषाओं की विविधता को देखते हुए मुझे नहीं लगता कि किसी और देश में यह क्षमता आसानी से उत्पन्न हो सकती है कि वह हमारा यानी भारत का बैक-ऑफ़िस बन सके. स्थानीय भाषाओं में प्रवीणता इस व्यापार की मुख्य शर्त है. और यही शर्त, शायद किसी भी और चीज़ की बजाय, घुटती (या घोटी जा रही) भारतीय भाषाओं के लिए सबसे अच्छी खबर है. क्योंकि, बिल क्लिंटन के चुनावी नारे के शब्दों में कहें तो - "it's the economy, stupid!"

Monday, April 18, 2005

Penguin launches books in Hindi (NDTV)

"Hoping to expand their publishing base, leading English-language publishers Penguin have launched a new and ambitious publishing programme in Hindi and other Indian languages.

"The Hindi list includes Hamara Hissa, an anthology of stories by well known writers like Kamleshwar, Rangeraghav, Mamta Kalia and Mridula Garg, translations of Khushwant Singh's bestselling Paradise and Other Stories, Anita Nair's Ladies Coupe and Namita Gokhale's Shakuntala.
[...]
""This is a very significant day for us. For the first time in our history we are publishing outside the English language. Bestsellers in the English language will now be available to more people," said John Makinson, CEO, Penguin Worldwide.
[...]
Also simultaneously launched in English and Hindi was writer Namita Gokhale's new novel, Shakuntala or Smriti Jaal set on the ghats of Kashi.

"Though I am basically an English writer, there are certain words certain feelings which you can express with one word in Hindi but you need several statements in English. There is always a feeling of incompleteness when one's books are only in English," said Namita Ghokhale."

Red Hat introduces Hindi software (i4donline)

"North Carolina-based Linux vendor Red Hat is focusing on localisation and e-Governance projects. The company has launched its new version of Linux v.4 in Hindi in the Indian city of Bhopal to enable the state government machinery interact with the people in the national language.

The new version will offer security, performance and manageability and will suit academic institutions, government departments and telecommunications. Apart from Hindi, the company has released its versions in the other Indian regional languages such as Punjabi, Tamil, Gujarati and Bengali."

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

चिट्ठा-पत्री

हिन्दी ब्लॉग जगत जोर-शोर से आगे बढ़ रहा है. इसी सन्दर्भ में एक नया, सामूहिक और सराहनीय प्रयास है - निरन्तर. निरन्तर एक मासिक "ब्लॉगज़ीन" यानी "चिट्ठा पत्रिका" है जिसका उद्घाटन अंक कुछ दिनों पहले ही जारी हुआ है. यह पत्रिका न केवल वेब की संगठन और सहयोग शक्ति का ही बल्कि हिन्दी चिट्ठाकारों की क्षमता का भी एक श्रेष्ठ उदाहरण है.

निरन्तर देखिये.

Friday, January 07, 2005

सिम्रेदो जावा यूनिकोड सम्पादन तन्त्र | Simredo Java Unicode Editor

Saturday, December 25, 2004

देवनागरी लिपि में लिखी जाने वाली भाषाओं के कूट | codes for languages written using devanagari script
# awa - अवधी | Awadhi
# bho - भोजपुरी | Bhojpuri
# bh - बिहारी | Bihari
# bra - ब्रज | Braj
# gon - गोण्डी | Gondi
# hi - हिन्दी | Hindi
# ks - कश्मीरी | Kashmiri
# kok - कोंकणी | Konkani
# mr - मराठी | Marathi
# mwr - मारवाड़ी | Marwari
# ne - नेपाली | Nepali
# new - नेवारी | Newari (Nepal Bhasa)
# sa - संस्कृत | Sanskrit
# sat - सन्थाली | Santali
# sd - सिन्धी | Sindhi

Friday, November 05, 2004

बीबीसी और वेबदुनिया का समझौता

"बीबीसी हिंदी सेवा की वेबसाइट बीबीसीहिंदी डॉट कॉम ने भारत के सबसे बड़े ऑनलाइन पोर्टलों में से एक, वेबदुनिया के साथ समाचार सामग्री उपलब्ध कराने के लिए समझौता किया है."

Monday, October 04, 2004

agencyfaqs! > news & features > Hindi, Marathi, English: The top three dailies in IRS round 2
Thru Agencyfaqs

"That Hindi dailies continue to be highest-read publication among all dailies did not come as a surprise.

What came as a mild shock was that even Marathi dailies are more popular than English dailies, as per the IRS round 2 reports. One is not sure about the advertisers but sociologists are clearly going to love this.

Hindi dailies with a combined readership of 5.74 crores are clearly the rightful claimants of the number one position, while Marathi dailies have a collective readership of 1.82 crores in comparison to English dailies, which have a total readership of 1.67 crores."
[...]

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Microsoft unveils Windows XP for India
Thru Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"NEW DELHI -- Microsoft Corp. announced Wednesday that it would offer a low-cost, localized version of its Windows XP operating system in India to tap the large market potential in this country of 1 billion people, most of whom do not speak English.

The Windows XP Starter Edition, designed for first-time personal computer users in India's national language, Hindi, will be 'significantly cheaper' than the Windows XP, said Rajeev Kaul, managing director of Microsoft India.

Kaul, however, didn't divulge the price, saying the software would be available only through desktop manufacturers and the price decided weeks before its launch early next year. If the Hindi version works well, the company plans to offer the software in 14 other Indian languages.

"It is easy to use, and is the most affordable version of Windows so far," Kaul said of the Starter Edition, which is also being rolled out in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Russia."

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

The Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Awards for 2002-03 announced
Thru PIB

"The Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Awards for 2002-03 have been announced. The awards which have been instituted by the Department of Official Language in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs are given every year to the Ministries and Departments of the Government of India, Nationalised Banks and Financial Institutions, Public Sector Undertakings and Town Official Language Implementation Committees for promoting the use of Hindi in their official work. Cash Awards are given to the employees of the Central Government for writing original books in Hindi on the subjects relating to their official work."
[...]
"The Central Bank of India Ltd. has bagged the first prize among the National Banks and Financial Institutions. The second and third positions have gone to Union Bank of India and the Bank of Maharashtra respectively. Besides, three consolations prizes have been awarded to the Punjab National Bank, the Canara Bank and the Small Scale Industrial Development Bank of India.

"For the Town Official Language Implementation Committees, the awards have gone to the Committee of Delhi (PSUs) from ‘A’ region, Mumbai (Banks) from ‘B’ region and Bangalore (Offices) from ‘C’ region.

"The Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Awards are also given for writing original books in Hindi on various subjects pertaining to administrative domain. The first prize carries a sum of Rs.20,000/-, the second Prize Rs. 16,000/-, and the third prize Rs.10,000/-. In this category, the first prize has gone to Shri Mahendra Pandey for his book ‘Taapman Main Vridhi aur Jalwayu Parivartan’. Shri Bimal Srivastava has been adjudged for the second prize for his book ‘Adhunic Hawai Adde Aur Unki Nirman Yojana’ and Shri Shivakant Bajpayee has been adjudged for third prize for his book ‘Prarambhik Bodh Dharma- Sangh and Samaj’."

Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Bhartendu Harishchandra Awards-2002 announced - Webindia123.com

"New Delhi, Sep 7 Prof Ram Mohan Pathak has been awarded the first prize in Bhartendu Harishchandra Awards-2002 for his manuscript 'Jan Madhyamon Ki Bhasha'.

Dr Om Prakash Singh bagged the second prize for his book 'Sanchar Ke Mool Sidhant'. The third prize went to Ms Ruchi Kashyap for her manusript 'Mayamrig-Bachon Par TV Vigyapanon Ka Prabhav'.

The Bhartendu Harishchandra awards are given by Information and Broadcasting Ministry to promote original writings in Hindi on journalism and mass communication. The awards will be presented by the I and B Minister S Jaipal Reddy on September 27.

Five consolation prizes go to Dr Amar Bahadur Singh and Dr Amarnath Singh for their jointly- written book 'Hindi Patrakarita aur Bhartendu Harishchandra', Mr Narendra Singh Yadav for his book 'Vigyapan Takneek Evam Siddhant', Mr Suresh Kumar for his manuscript 'Internet Patrakarita', Mr Shivanand Kamde for his manuscript 'Chhatisgarh Mein Patrakarita Ka Udbhav Evam Vikas' and Dr Deven Chandra Das for his manuscript 'Assam Ke Samachar Patra Aur Patrakarita'."

Uniform science terms - The Telegraph

"New Delhi, Sept. 6 (PTI): The Supreme Court today directed all governmental bodies, including the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), to ensure uniformity in scientific terminology used in textbooks, as recommended by a standing committee.

A bench comprising Justices Ruma Pal and Arun Kumar, while disposing of a public interest litigation filed by Matribhasha Vikas Parishad, directed all governmental education bodies to follow the terminology suggested by the standing committee on scientific and technical terminology.

The bench noted that the petitioner had brought on record several instances, which showed different Hindi translations of the same scientific expression used in textbooks.

The court said the object behind setting up of the standing committee was to avoid confusion among students by adopting a uniform scientific terminology. It was mandatory on the part of the governmental education bodies to follow the recommendations of the committee, the court added."

Dr. Meghnad Saha award for Hindi writing presented - Webindia123.com

"Ten authors of books on different disciplines of science have received the Meghnad Saha Award for original writing in Hindi for the year 2000 to 2002. The awards were presented by Shri V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology.

Congratulating the authors, Shri Ramamurthy emphasized the need for producing more qualitative books on different streams of science and technology. He said that country like India needs more and more authors for writing books on science in Hindi and other regional languages so that scientific knowledge could be extended to the young minds living in the rural areas as well.

The recipients of the Awards are: Dr. Yatish Aggarwal and Smt. Rekha Aggarwal for ‘Khile Matritwa, Gunje Kilkarian (first prize); Dr. Shiv Chandra Dubey and Dr. Ramesh Somvanshi for ‘Bher Bakriyon ke Rog Aur unka Upchar’ (Second Prize); Dr. Prem Chandra Swarankar for ‘Rogon Se Kaise Bachain’, (Third Prize); Dr. Rajnikant Tewari and Sh. Vishwamohan Tewari for ‘Upgrah Ke Bahar-Bheeter Bharat Ke Hastakshar’ (Second Prize); Shri Laxman Prasad and Sh. Vinod Kumar Mishra for ‘Sadharan Awiskaron Ki Asadharan Safaltain’ (Consolation Prize) and Shri Subhash Chandra for ‘Bharat Main Computer Kranti’ (Consolation Prize).

The award for writing books on science subjects in Hindi was initially introduced by the Department of Science & Technology in 1987 under the scheme ‘Vigyan Aur Prodyogiki Puraskar Yojana’ in the disciplines of Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Life Science. In 1990, the scheme was renamed as “Dr. Meghnad Saha Puraskar Yojana”. "

Reliance Infocomm launches Worlds Slimmest CDMA handset at just Rs 2,999 with Hindi interface

"Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City, Navi Mumbai, India, September 7, (Xtvworld) -- Setting the handset market afire, India’s largest mobile service provider Reliance Infocomm has rolled out the world’s thinnest CDMA black and white handset – Samsung Slim – at an equally slim price of Rs 2,999.

Samsung Slim weighs just 80 grams has a four-line display and incorporates 30 ring tones, including 15 Indian tunes and five bells and 16 polyphonic (CMX) ring tones. The sleek phone’s dimensions are: 105x43x13 mm.

Initially presented in stunning black matt finish, the handset has a striking backlight that makes it even more attractive at nighttime. Priced at an affordable Rs 2,999, this is by far the most stylish handset available at entry level. It has English and Hindi User interface with facility to send or receive SMS in Hindi as well as store Phone Book entries, Schedules and Memos in the national language."