Shillong, Oct 12: The 11th National Official Language Conference was organised by the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, from October 8 to 10, 2026. The conference was held at Lecture Theatre-I in the Administrative Block of NEIGRIHMS.
Shri Elangbam Robert Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, attended the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. Prof. (Dr.) Nalin Mehta, Director of NEIGRIHMS, welcomed the Chief Guest and participants from various states and regions of India. Prof. Mehta applauded the efforts of the NEIGRIHMS organising team and its coordination in promoting Rajbhasha Hindi in the northeastern region of the country.
Shri Vinod Kumar, Joint Director (Official Language), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, outlined the background and objectives of the conference. Journals published by AIISH, Mysuru, and CGHS, Ahmedabad, were also released during the inaugural session. The vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Manika Agrawal, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and In-charge of the Official Language Section, NEIGRIHMS.
The academic sessions on the first day featured presentations by eminent speakers on various aspects of Hindi. Dr. Brahm Dev Ram Tiwari, Chief Electoral Officer of Meghalaya and an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, spoke on “Use of Hindi in the Northeast.”
Prof. Partha Sarathi Pandey, Regional Director, Central Hindi Institute, Regional Centre, Shillong, delivered a presentation on “Functional Hindi—Relevance and Perspectives.” Prof. (Dr.) Animesh Mishra, Head of the Department of Cardiology, NEIGRIHMS, discussed “The Role of Hindi in the Transition from a Developing to a Developed India.”
On the second day, Shri Vinod Kumar, Joint Director, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, spoke on the promotion and propagation of Hindi abroad. Prof. Achintya Kumar Sharma, Chairperson for Official Language at IIM Shillong, discussed the potential role of language in quantum healing.
Prof. (Dr.) Manika Agrawal of NEIGRIHMS delivered a presentation on the relationship between music and health. The day also featured the distribution of certificates of appreciation, the valedictory session and cultural programmes. An educational excursion was scheduled for October 10.
The three-day conference provided a platform for officials and participants from various ministries, institutions and organisations associated with the implementation of the Official Language to discuss the effective use and development of Hindi, exchange experiences and share ideas on implementing Official Language policies.
