Governor Yadav along with other officials and participants during the prize distribution ceremony of the Hindi Film Song Competition held at the Akashvani Office Complex in Kohima on September 24. (Photo Courtesy: PRO Lok Bhavan Nagaland)
Kohima, September 24 (MExN): Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav on Thursday stressed the importance of promoting Hindi while preserving the state's indigenous languages, saying linguistic diversity is one of India's greatest cultural strengths.
Yadav was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of the Hindi Film Song Competition organised by Akashvani Kohima as part of Hindi Pakhwada 2026 at the Akashvani Office Complex in Kohima.
Appreciating Akashvani Kohima and the Town Official Language Implementation Committee for organising the programme, the Governor said celebrating language through music was particularly meaningful as music could transcend boundaries and foster fellowship.
Referring to Hindi Pakhwada and the significance of Hindi Diwas, Yadav said Hindi has an important role as a means of communication among citizens across different linguistic regions, but its promotion and the preservation of indigenous languages can go together.
He noted that Nagaland is home to diverse tribes, languages, dialects, traditions and cultural expressions, and said every language carries the history, traditional knowledge, values, songs and stories of a community.
"Therefore, Hindi should be promoted with equal respect and appreciation for the languages of local communities," he said.
The Governor said learning Hindi could help citizens communicate with people across the country, while indigenous languages keep communities connected to their roots and identity.
He said both have an important place in building an India where different languages and cultures coexist, interact and enrich the national fabric.
Highlighting the significance of the Hindi Film Song Competition, Yadav said music could transcend linguistic boundaries and communicate emotions such as happiness, love, nostalgia, hope, patriotism and friendship. Hindi film songs, he added, had become part of the shared cultural memory of generations of Indians.
He also appreciated Nagaland's vibrant musical tradition and the enthusiasm of its younger generation, observing that music had become an important medium through which the state interacts with the rest of the country and the world.
The Governor said the competition provided an opportunity for officers and staff from different offices to participate, appreciate one another's talents and strengthen institutional fellowship and national integration.
Congratulating the prize winners and participants, Yadav said participation itself had great value, as performing helps overcome hesitation, practice develops discipline, listening fosters appreciation, and group activities build friendship and camaraderie.
The Governor also appreciated the role of Akashvani Kohima over the years, saying it had served as an important medium for news, information, education, music, culture and public messages.
In a geographically challenging state like Nagaland, broadcasting has a particularly important role in providing a platform for local voices, languages, music, traditions and issues of public importance, while also connecting the state with the rest of India, he said.
Referring to the changing communication landscape, Yadav said digital platforms and social media had transformed the way people communicate and consume information, but the fundamental purpose of public broadcasting to inform, educate and connect people remained relevant.
On the use of language in public administration, the Governor stressed that clear communication leads to better administration. Official communication, he said, should be precise, understandable, accessible, simple, clear, inclusive and people-friendly.
He added that the progressive use of Hindi in official work should ultimately contribute to effective communication and better public service.
Yadav called for the spirit of Hindi Pakhwada to continue beyond the fortnight and encouraged people to promote Hindi while respecting English and all other Indian languages.
He also encouraged young people to learn more than one language and stressed the need to preserve indigenous languages and the traditional knowledge embedded in them.
Congratulating the prize winners, participants, organisers and the Town Official Language Implementation Committee, the Governor said such programmes created opportunities for colleagues from different institutions to come together and participate in a friendly and meaningful manner.
Concluding his address, Yadav said, "Many languages, many cultures, many voices but one shared spirit of India."
