Dehradun: The state government has taken an initiative to connect Uttarakhand’s folk languages with modern technology. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the voice collection portal for Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Jaunsari folk languages under the AESE Foundation’s ‘Bhasha AI’ initiative at his camp office on Thursday. The campaign commenced with the Chief Minister’s voice recorded in the Kumaoni language. The objective of this initiative is to preserve and promote folk languages while making them compatible with artificial intelligence-based technology.
The Chief Minister stated that dialects and languages are our identity. Utilizing modern technology is essential to preserve folk art, culture, and traditions. The scope of artificial intelligence is expanding rapidly. In this context, regional languages must also be integrated with this technology to give broader recognition to Uttarakhand’s rich linguistic heritage.
Dhami said that the government endeavors to enable people living in remote villages to access information about government schemes in their local language and easily convey their problems to the government. For this, it is necessary for artificial intelligence to accurately understand local languages and their pronunciations. Through the portal, along with a collection of words, samples related to their pronunciations and various speaking styles will also be gathered.
The Chief Minister noted that the same word is pronounced differently in various regions of Uttarakhand. Recording these variations digitally will help technology better comprehend local languages. He expressed confidence that this initiative will play a significant role in connecting the new generation with their linguistic heritage, folk art, and cultural traditions.
Emphasis on Maintaining Originality of Folk Languages
Padma Shri folk singer Pritam Bhartwan stated that Uttarakhand’s folk languages embody a rich heritage of folk life, folk songs, jagar, and cultural traditions. He shared that the Jagar Academy will collaborate in this initiative to ensure the correct pronunciation and preservation of the originality of these languages.
Sachidanand Semwal, founder of AESE Foundation, explained that under the ‘Bhasha AI’ initiative, a collection of words and voices in Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Jaunsari is being compiled. The objective is to enable AI-based technology to communicate in these folk languages in the future.
The event was attended by Shakti Prasad Bhatt, Gajendra Nautiyal, Aniruddh Raithwan, Nidhi Semwal, Anil Godiyal, Dr. J.K. Pandey, and Dev Raturi, among others.
