**Summary:**
The Indian government, through the Ministry of Culture and its autonomous body, the Sahitya Akademi, is actively engaged in promoting and preserving indigenous languages and cultural heritage. The Sahitya Akademi, which promotes Indian literature in 24 languages, specifically focuses on unrecognized and tribal languages by bestowing Bhasha Samman to writers, scholars, and researchers in these languages. The Akademi observes the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples annually by hosting an All-India Tribal Writers Meet and has established dedicated centers in Agartala and Delhi to preserve oral and tribal literature. The first edition of UNMESHA, the International Literature Festival Shimla, held from June 16-18, 2022, included approximately 3035 tribal writers representing over 25 tribal languages. The second edition, held in Bhopal from August 3-6, 2023, featured over 575 writers from India and abroad, encompassed 85 literary programs, and represented almost 103 languages. The government also collaborates with state-level institutions and partners with State Akademis, universities, and recognized literary organizations to organize regional programs, seminars, and workshops for the promotion and development of both recognized and unrecognized Indian languages. This information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. Contact information: Sunil Kumar Tiwari, pibcultureatgmaildotcom, Release ID: 2153609.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: A government ministry responsible for the promotion and preservation of culture.
Sahitya Akademi: An autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, working for the promotion of Indian literature.
Bhasha Samman: An award bestowed by Sahitya Akademi to writers, scholars, and researchers in unrecognized and tribal languages of India.
Agartala: Location of one of the dedicated centres of Sahitya Akademi for preserving and promoting oral and tribal literature. Capital of Tripura State.
Delhi: Location of one of the dedicated centres of Sahitya Akademi for preserving and promoting oral and tribal literature. Union Territory and Capital of India.
UNMESHA the International Literature Festival Shimla: An international literature festival where tribal writers participated; first edition held in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Bhopal: Location of the second edition of UNMESHA, the International Literature Festival. Capital of Madhya Pradesh State.
Smt. Droupadi Murmu: Honorable President of India, who inaugurated the second edition of UNMESHA in Bhopal.
Ministry of Culture
Promotion of Indigenous Language
Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 4:17PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India is actively engaged in promoting and preserving the country’s indigenous languages
and cultural heritage.
Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, working for the promotion of Indian
literature in 24 languages. The Akademi encourages the preservation and promotion of languages, not only the
recognized languages but specially the unrecognized and tribal language of India.
In order to preserve and promote unrecognized and Tribal languages of India, Sahitya Akademi has been
bestowing Bhasha Samman to the writers/scholars/researchers in these languages.
The Akademi celebrates the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on 9 August each year by
organizing an All-India Tribal Writers’ Meet. To further preserve and promote oral and tribal literature, it has
established dedicated centres in Agartala and Delhi. In the first edition of UNMESHA – the International
Literature Festival (Shimla, 16-18 June 2022), around 30-35 tribal writers representing more than 25 tribal
languages participated. The second edition (Bhopal, 3 to 6 August 2023), inaugurated by Hon’ble President of
India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, featured over 575 writers from India and foreign, took part in 85 literary
programmes, and almost 103 languages were represented.
The Government of India collaborates with state-level institutions to promote indigenous languages and
literature. Sahitya Akademi, India’s premier literary institution, regularly partners with State Akademis,
universities, and recognized literary organizations to organize regional programmes, seminars, and workshops
for the promotion and development of both recognized and unrecognized Indian languages.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2153609)