Write in Hindi, Read in Punjabi

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Vishal Goyal, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, Punjabi University, Patiala who is doing Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Gurpreet Singh Lehal, Professor, Department of Computer Science has developed a web based machine translation system which can convert text input in Hindi into Punjabi after translation. You may also translate complete Hindi webpages by specifying the URL, though the processing is annoyingly slow at the moment. [Source: Punjab Newsline Network]

Editor's note: We found that presently the system only accepts input text typed using Krutidev, a popular True type font in Hindi, and doesn't work with Unicode. Vishal clarified in his comment that the tool works with Unicode.

Dunia Dekho: A Travel Portal in Hindi

Ghaziabad based digital media company ADS Media has launched a Travel Portal "Dunia Dekho" entirely in Hindi, which they claim is the first such website in the language.Website's editor Arjun Deshpremi believes that the portal would be an excellent resource for Hindi speaking tourists from around the World. The website would also include news items related to the tourism industry and would allow readers to upload their travel anecdotes along with pictures. [Source: Prabhatkhabar]

Kalkion.com launches Hindi Science Fiction website

Noida based Kalkion Group has today launched the Hindi edition of Kalkion.com, a multi-lingual and multi-cultural science fiction and fantasy web magazine. It claims to be the world's first science fiction website in Hindi. The site will publish science fiction stories, fantasies, articles, interviews, news and blogs.

Kalkion was launched on April 15th 2009 and their editorial board is contemplating launch of other multi-lingual editions of Kalkion. The inaugural issue includes an interview of Dr Rajeev Ranjan Upadhyaya along-with several SF stories.

Nepalese MP demands second national language status for Hindi

A Nepalese lawmaker and leader of a Madhesi party has demanded that Hindi, which had played a vital role in unifying Nepal, should be given recognition as the second national language in the country's Constitution.
Rameshwor Roy Yadav, general secretary of the Madhesi People's Rights Party (Democratic) said Hindi had played a vital role in unifying Nepal as it was a contact language among people speaking different mother tongues. He demanded that Hindi be given recognition as the second national language in the Nepalese Constitution.
Speaking on "the present and future of Hindi language in Nepal" at a programme here, Mr. Roy recalled how he was kicked out of Parliament nine times in 1991 for speaking in Hindi. He said a marshal was asked to take him out of the Parliament repeatedly for speaking in Hindi, he said, adding the incident was also raised in the Indian Parliament. "After that pressure was created upon Nepal government and finally the Chairman of the Upper House or National Assembly Beni Bahadur Karki allowed me to speak in Hindi in the Parliament," he said.
Referring to the controversy that erupted after Vice President Parmananda Jha took the oath of office in Hindi, he said: "when the use of the language was allowed in the parliament then why (Mr. Jha) couldn't take oath of office and secrecy in Hindi". [PTI]