Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, in collaboration with the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti under the aegis of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Education, Government of India, inaugurated the Authors Workshop on Academic Writing to develop textbooks for higher education in Bharatiya Language (Dogri) on 24th Feb 2025. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to strengthen academic content in Bharatiya languages and enhance accessibility to quality education.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu; Chief Guest Prof. S.P. Bansal, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Himachal Pradesh & Himachal Pradesh University; Padma Shri Lalit Magotra, President, Dogri Sanstha, Jammu; and Guests of Honor Dr. Archana Thakur, Joint Secretary, UGC, and Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU. Dr. Garima Saini, Assistant Professor, IIM Jammu, was also present during the ceremony.

Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu emphasized the importance of genuinely embracing regional languages rather than treating their promotion as a mere formality. He stressed the need to make Dogri a compulsory subject in schools from an early stage, in line with NEP 2020’s emphasis on mother-tongue-based education. Acknowledging the contributions of Padma Shri Lalit Magotra to Dogri, he called for institutional efforts to integrate the language into academics. He highlighted the significance of preserving and promoting one’s mother tongue alongside English and reaffirmed IIM Jammu’s commitment to linguistic inclusivity.

Chief Guest Prof. S.P. Bansal, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Himachal Pradesh & Himachal Pradesh University, expressed gratitude to Director, IIM Jammu and commended him for organizing the two-day workshop and underscored NEP 2020’s role in strengthening regional languages. He noted that 22 nodal universities were assigned different languages, with Central Himachal University receiving the mandate for Dogri. He emphasized that language forms the foundation of identity and urged participants to take pride in their contribution to strengthening Dogri in higher education. He also outlined a structured approach to textbook development, identifying 45 authors committed to writing in Dogri and ensuring translation support.

Keynote Speaker Padma Shri Lalit Magotra, President,Dogra Sanstha, Jammu highlighted the role of mother tongue in knowledge dissemination, referencing global examples where native languages are prioritized in education. He emphasized that linguistic diversity strengthens cognitive abilities and cultural identity, making it imperative to preserve and promote regional languages. He stressed the need for greater institutional efforts to integrate Dogri into early education and academic research, advocating for curriculum development and teacher training programs to support its inclusion. He called for Dogri spelling standardization and urged stakeholders to ensure its prominence in the education system, suggesting the formation of expert committees to guide this process.

Guest of Honor Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU emphasized the importance of collaboration among institutions to promote indigenous language content. He underscored the role of technology and digital platforms in enhancing the reach and accessibility of Dogri literature and educational resources. He noted that while Dogri is widely spoken, it is not yet a medium of school education and called for efforts to incorporate Dogri into textbooks in an engaging and accessible manner, proposing the development of interactive learning materials and storytelling-based pedagogy to attract young learners.

Guests of Honor Dr. Archana Thakur, Joint Secretary, UGC, appreciated the world-class infrastructure and collaborative efforts of institutions like the IIM Jammu, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, SMVDU, and University of Jammu, in promoting regional languages. She highlighted the establishment of a Bharatiya Bhasha Forum of languages and announced a dedicated dashboard for authors to ensure plagiarism-free content, emphasizing originality and quality in academic writing.

Dr. Garima Saini, Assistant Professor, and Faculty Coordinator, IIM Jammu provided an overview of the two-day workshop, outlining its objectives and key focus areas. She emphasized its role in equipping educators, scholars, and authors with essential skills for developing textbooks in Bharatiya languages, aligning with NEP 2020’s vision.

The workshop includes sessions on insights from NEP 2020, textbook writing principles, quality assurance, terminology standardization, interdisciplinary textbook development, and a panel discussion on future action plans. The event will conclude with a valedictory ceremony recognizing the contributions of participants and experts. This initiative marks a significant step toward realizing NEP 2020’s vision, ensuring Bharatiya languages gain prominence in academic writing, research, and higher education.