Hindi continues to retain its non-official language status at the United Nations, with India voluntarily funding initiatives to share UN news and information in the language…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Hindi continues to retain its non-official language status at the United Nations, with India supporting efforts to make the organisation’s news and information accessible to Hindi-speaking audiences worldwide.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P Harish, said the language retained this status under a recently adopted resolution on multilingualism, partly because the UN Department of Global Communications (UNDGC) disseminates news and social media content in Hindi.
Speaking at an event marking Hindi Divas at the United Nations on Thursday, Harish said India had voluntarily supported the Hindi at UN project, which aims to provide information about the organisation to Hindi-speaking audiences across the world.
“In the recently adopted multilingualism resolution, Hindi has continued to retain a non-official language status on account of DGC’s transmission of news and social media in this language”, he said.
He added that India had consistently supported multilingualism at the United Nations and co-sponsored resolutions on the subject.
The multilingualism resolution, co-sponsored by Andorra and adopted by the UN General Assembly last month, recognises the cultural, political and diplomatic importance of non-official languages in promoting representation and effective participation in the organisation’s work.
The resolution also reaffirms that representatives may deliver statements in non-official languages.
India supports Hindi outreach
Harish highlighted Hindi’s international reach, describing it as the “third largest spoken language in the world”. He said the language had extended beyond India’s borders and become an important means of sharing the country’s ideas, stories and cultural heritage.
“Our diaspora, literature, cinema, and digital platforms have helped carry the language to audiences across the world”, he said.
The initiative to make UN information available in Hindi forms part of India’s voluntary support for multilingual communication at the international organisation. However, Hindi has not been granted official language status at the UN.
The United Nations has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. These are used in the organisation’s formal communications and proceedings under its language arrangements.
Hindi’s presence in UN news and social media content helps broaden access to information without changing its formal status within the organisation.
BJP MP C P Joshi said the UN Department of Global Communications and India signed a memorandum of understanding in 2018 to facilitate the transmission of United Nations news in Hindi, supported by voluntary contributions from New Delhi.
He said the agreement was renewed last year for a further five years.
“Today, Hindi is carving a niche for itself across the globe, extending far beyond India’s borders”, Joshi said.
He described Hindi as an important part of India’s linguistic heritage, stressing that the country’s languages and dialects collectively represented its multilingual and multicultural identity.
“India is a multilingual and multicultural civilisation; all languages and dialects constitute our collective heritage”, he said.
“Hindi is a vital part of this rich linguistic family and ranks among the most widely spoken and understood languages in the world”, he added.
Andorra highlights language in diplomacy
Joan Forner Rovira, Andorra’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, highlighted the role of languages in international cooperation and diplomacy.
Referring to Article 1 of the UN Charter, which sets out the organisation’s commitment to international cooperation and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, he said language was essential to achieving that vision.
“Within the United Nations, language is one of our most important tools of diplomacy”, he added.
Andorra’s support for the multilingualism resolution reflects the importance of linguistic diversity in enabling representatives and communities to participate in international discussions.
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has also encouraged people to learn an additional Indian language, linking the initiative to the principle of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”, meaning one India, great India.
The remarks at the Hindi Divas observance highlighted India’s efforts to expand the language’s international presence while recognising the country’s broader linguistic diversity.
The continued dissemination of UN information in Hindi provides access for a wider audience, although its status as a non-official language remains unchanged.
