C-DAC launches project to digitise Sindhi language

PUNE: The GIST Group at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing ( C-DAC)has undertaken a new project to bring the Sindhi language into the digital medium. Titled, 'Tools & Technologies for Development in Sindhi Language', the project is being done under the aegis of the National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language (NCPSL), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India. It will include a software that will enable typing in Sindhi on desktops and android devices, development of Sindhi fonts and eBooks and other free and open source software like office productivity tools, children software, graphics artists tools, website development tools, etc.

Some of the software developed under the TDIL Programme of MeitY, Govt. of India has also been enhanced. The software will be developed and made available in both Devanagari and Perso-Arabic scripts.

The announcement was made on 10th April which was the 50th 'Sindhi Bhasha Diwas'.

Hemant Darbari, executive director, C-DAC, said, "C-DAC is committed to the proliferation of Indian languages on the digital medium. We were the first to recognize its potential to actively preserve the cultural heritage of a community which is more or less embedded within its language. At the same time, we also realized that Indian languages would be our best ally in bridging the digital divide in a country like India that has around 22 Official Indian Languages. The strategy has clearly worked in our favour as we have been able to address a number of challenges using the multilingual technology developed by us. I do hope that the Sindhi community will find our tools useful and will be able to communicate without any restrictions in their own mother tongue”.

Mahesh Kulkarni, HOD-GIST, C-DAC, said, "Pioneering the Indian languages on the digital platform was a comprehensive effort, and that C-DAC cannot slacken its pace on that front considering that digital platforms are reinventing themselves every day. We have to be ready to face this challenge and evolve our strategy and approach on the same lines."