(a) the details of languages declared as official languages in U.N.O.;
(b) the steps taken/ proposed to be taken to make Hindi an official languages of the United Nations Organisation (U.N.O.);
(c) whether the permanent Secretariat of Vishwa Hindi Sammelan located in Mauritius and Hindi Sachivalaya has started working in this regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the efforts made/proposed to be made to promote the use of Hindi in Indian Embassies in other countries?
MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI S.M. KRISHNA)
(a) The UN has six official Languages, which are English, French, Spanish, Russian,
Chinese and Arabic.
(b) The Government has been taking active measures to make Hindi one of the official
languages of the United Nations. A high level Committee under the Chairmanship of the
External Affairs Minister was constituted on 26-02-2003. This was followed by a sub-Committee
set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister of State for External Affairs in August 2003 to
examine this matter and take necessary measures. Keeping in mind this objective, the 8th World
Hindi Conference was organized and its inaugural session held at the UN Headquarters in New York
on 13-07-2007. The UN Secretary General Mr. Ban ki-Moon addressed the inaugural session.
Additionally, on several occasions Indian leaders have delivered statements at the UN in Hindi.
Necessary arrangements were made for simultaneous interpretation of these statements in English
by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York. Government of India`s sustained efforts
have also ensured that the United Nations produces a weekly programme in Hindi and makes it
available on the UN Radio Website in Hindi.
(c) & (d): The World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius has started functioning with effect
from 11-02-2008. The main objective of the World Hindi Secretariat is to promote Hindi as an
international language and further its cause for recognition at the United Nations as an Official
Language. The Secretariat has a Governing Council and an Executive Board and is headed by a
Secretary General.
(e): Indian Embassies/Missions abroad play an important role in the promotion of use of Hindi.
Various Hindi programmes are organized in Embassies / Missions abroad. Support is also given to
the educational and cultural institutions in the host countries by the Indian Missions/Posts
abroad for promotion of the official language.