PUDUCHERRY, Feb 3, 2026 – As part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Department of Hindi at Pondicherry University is set to host the 62nd installment of its acclaimed "Workshop in LT (Language Technology) Series" tomorrow, Wednesday, February 4. The international workshop, titled "Digital Writing and Language Technology" (ई-लेखन और भाषा प्रौद्योगिकी), aims to bridge the gap between traditional linguistic scholarship and modern digital innovation.

Event Highlights and Key Speakers

The session will be chaired by Dr. C. Jaya Sankar Babu, Head of the Department of Hindi and a prominent figure in the field of Indian language computing. The invited keynote speaker is Prof. Yogendra Pratap Singh, Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute at Allahabad University.

Prof. Singh, a distinguished academic and Editor-in-Chief of Shodh Sanchayan, is renowned for his work on the intersection of media, literature, and technology, including his seminal publication, Computer ki Medha.

A Vision for "Bhasha Proudyogiki" Startups

The workshop aligns with a broader national initiative declaring 2026 as the "Year of Startups in Bhasha Proudyogiki" (Language Technology Startups). This movement, supported by the Ministry of Education and aligned with NEP 2020 and Digital India, encourages students and researchers to view language barriers as entrepreneurial opportunities.

Key areas of focus for aspiring startup founders include:

• Language AI & NLP: Developing advanced tools for Indian languages.

• Speech & Translation: Creating real-time translation and voice-enabled technologies.

• Tribal Language Preservation: Specialized focus on less-represented languages such as Bodo, Gondi, Mizo, and Santali.

Free SWAYAM MOOC: "Introduction to Language Technology"

In tandem with the workshop series, Pondicherry University has opened registrations for its popular SWAYAM MOOC course, "Bhasha Proudyogiki ka Parichay" (An Introduction to Language Technology).

"This course connects students, researchers, and teachers with the digital empowerment of Indian languages," states the course syllabus.

Course Details at a Glance:

Course Fee is completely FREE

Eligibility: Open to all learners (Students, Faculty, Professionals) 

Registration Deadline February 28, 2026 

Key Topics: NLP, Digital Humanities, AI-enabled tools for Indian languages

Certification SWAYAM Credit Certificate available upon passing internal and end-term exams |

How to Join

The workshop will be held virtually on February 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM via Google Meet. Registration is free, and all participants will be issued certificates.

• Workshop Registration: https://forms.gle/H8KWIDNBcfvD1XOAA

• SWAYAM Course Enrollment: https://onlinecourses.swayam2.ac.in/cec26_lg06/preview

Would you like me to help you draft an application for the SWAYAM certificate or provide more details on the startup opportunities mentioned?