Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal announces to set up a new university “Hindi University” in West Bengal as the population of Hindi-speaking in state is quite high.
The Hindi University aims to provide higher education to the Hindi-speaking people, yet the name Hindi University is not finalised but the foundation stone has been laid for it.
Banerjee made this announcement in the state Assembly passed on Thursday.
The West Bengal government has decided to establish a state-aided varsity named, Hindi University as of now in Howrah district, besides setting up a centre of excellence it will be devoted to enrich the language.
Mamata Banerjee Said:
“The Hindi university will show us a new path. It will stand for harmony and unity. We will decide the name of the Hindi university later after talking to all communities. I will request the education department to initiate the construction work as land has already been acquired and the foundation stone has been laid.”
Banerjee courted a controversy by saying that those living in the state will have to learn to speak Bengali.
Banerjee said at the Trinamool Congress workers at Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas district in June.
“We have to bring Bengal forward. When I go to Bihar, UP, Punjab, I speak their language. If someone is living in Bengal, he or she has to learn Bengali.”
However, On Thursday, she said there are many Hindi-speaking people who are staying in West Bengal.
“We have given recognition to different languages but importance should be also given to Hindi by setting up more Hindi-medium schools, colleges and universities. There are many people who have made this request so, more Hindi-medium educational institutions will be set up in West Bengal.”
Besides the Hindi University, she added the government will open universities in all districts.
“Our government has set up several universities and many more are in the pipeline. We are coming up with a university in Jhargram (a newly-created district). So far we have build 31 universities in the state and there are several which are under process. We have also come up with 50 colleges and 7,000 schools and engineering colleges and medical colleges.”