Patna: Hindi should not remain confined to govt files and official functions but must become a living expression of India’s cultural identity, state education minister Mithilesh Tiwari said on Thursday while inaugurating Hindi Pakhwada 2026 at IIT Patna.Addressing the gathering at the institute’s Senate Hall, Tiwari said Hindi described Hindi as more than a language, calling it an emotional and cultural bond with the country. “Hindi is not just a word; it is an emotion that connects us with our motherland,” he said, stressing the need to take pride in India’s linguistic heritage.The minister cited India’s growing global presence to underline the importance of Hindi, recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addressing the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. He also referred to Swami Vivekananda’s landmark 1893 address in Chicago as an example of India taking its cultural identity to the world stage.IIT Patna director T N Singh said promoting Hindi should go beyond procedural compliance. “The soul of Hindustan resides in Hindi,” he said, calling for its adoption as a way of life. The fortnight will feature activities aimed at encouraging wider use of Hindi in official and everyday communication.
