Bridging the language-knowledge gap for a Viksit Bharat by 2047

As we strive towards a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047, the pivotal role of languages in shaping the knowledge landscape, especially in the domains of science and technology, cannot be overlooked.

- SHASHI SHEKHAR VEMPATI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India rests on the inclusive participation of all citizens, regardless of the language they speak.

Thus, modernization of Indian languages to disseminate knowledge, particularly in science and technology, becomes essential.

India's diverse languages also contain rich repositories of traditional knowledge and ancient systems of thinking.

Languages such as Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, and Malayalam have preserved vast amounts of scientific thought from ancient India, particularly in the realms of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and architecture.

Making these texts accessible through Al-driven translation and interpretation will open new avenues for scientific research that are uniquely Indian.

The integration of Indian knowledge systems into modern education holds tremendous potential in bridging the gap between traditional Indian thinking and contemporary science and technology. For instance, ancient Indian methods of astronomy, particularly those used in the construction of the Indian calendar system, can be incorporated into algorithms and programming education.

Computational tasks involved in tracking planetary movements, creating complex calendars, and predicting eclipses can be used to teach students programming logic, algorithms, and data structures. Conversely, translation and interpretation of ancient Indian texts into modern scientific language can aid researchers in accessing centuries-old knowledge for potential modern-day applications.

Achieving this, however, will require overcoming the twin barriers of publicly accessible datasets and skills that can bridge the gap between Indian languages and modern science and technology.