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 Hindi can only achieve wider acceptability in non-Hindi speaking regions if the simple, flexible, lay version of it is used for communication instead of complex words and rigid sentences, Kerala Governor Shri Nikhil Kumar said today.
 
Speaking at the inauguration of the Hindi Fortnight Celebrations at HLL Lifecare Limited, he said compelling people to use a language they are not familiar with will only be counterproductive in the longer term.
 
“Hindi was adopted as the official language of the constituent assembly on September 14, 1949. Sixty-four years on, we are still promoting it,” Shri Nikhil Kumar pointed out. “This slow pace is not because of lack of effort – there has been plenty of that – but exposing non-speakers to the charm of everyday Hindi without forcing it upon them is the only way to accelerate its adoption as envisioned in the government policy.
 
He said mixing English, Urdu, and vernacular words in Hindi is a good practice because it enriches the language and makes it more accessible and appealing to people who do not speak it as a first language.
 
Shri Nikhil Kumar said he was impressed by HLL’s credentials as a company working to bring affordable healthcare to the public and earn valuable foreign exchange through exports.
 
The Governor gave away prizes to winners of various competitions that were held as part of the Hindi Diwas celebrations at the company.
 
Messages from Union Home Minister Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde and Union Minister for Health and Family Affairs Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad were read out at the function.
 
HLL Chairman & Managing Director Dr M Ayyappan, who presided over the function today briefed about the company’s various initiatives and projects. He said HLL has adopted Hindi as the means to create awareness about products and services among the general public.
 
Employees at HLL are encouraged to use Hindi for official communication and otherwise; and the company has put into practice innovative ways of promoting the language among its employees. This includes a library of Hindi films and music, a Hindi Mela which is organised as part of Annual Day celebrations of the Recreation Club and a Hindi “Music Night” for the employees and their children. 
For its outstanding performance in implementing the official language, HLL Lifecare was honoured with the prestigious Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Shield , the eighth time it won this national award.
 
Dr K Sreelatha, Professor, Department of Hindi at the Sree Sankara University of Sanskrit, offered felicitations.
 
Senior officials of HLL, including Directors Shri K.K. Suresh Kumar, Shri R.P. Khandelwal,  Dr. K R S Krishnan and  Senior Vice President Shri Babu Thomas, spoke on the occasion.