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Probably binging Schitt's Creek in my room right now

Interview with Dr. Sanjay Kumar

Writer's picture: Shivam SrivastavaShivam Srivastava

To read about the full interview, check below.



Here are some key insights from the interview-

  • Perception of Hindi as a complicated language - Dr. Kumar addresses the common perception that Hindi is a complicated language, arguing that this notion arises from unfamiliarity rather than inherent difficulty. He emphasizes that the Devanagari script, used for writing Hindi, is highly scientific and systematic, with a close correspondence between written and spoken forms. He contrasts this with English, which has more discrepancies between its written and spoken forms.

  • Scientific Nature of the script - The Devanagari script is described as scientific due to its systematic arrangement of syllables and vowels, which reflect the natural expulsion of air from the mouth. This organization makes the script logical and easy to learn for those familiar with its phonetic principles​.

  • Standardization of Devanagari Script (Mankikaran)- The Government of India standardized the Devanagari script in the 1960s and 70s to create uniformity and clarity. This was necessary because regional variations in writing could cause confusion, such as mistaking certain consonants for others. The standardization aimed to make the script widely usable across different regions and for various official and educational purposes​(Dr. Sanjay Kumar)​.

  • Evolution and Adaptation of the Script- Dr. Kumar discusses how languages and scripts evolve with cultural and civilizational progress. He gives examples of how Hindi has incorporated new sounds over time, influenced by interactions with other languages and cultural changes, such as the introduction of sounds from English during the British colonial period​.

  • Kutakshar Technique in Nepali- The Kutakshar technique, used primarily in Nepali, involves creating coded words or ciphers. This technique, which can be used in any script evolved from Devanagari, was historically used for sending secret messages. The presence of the shirorekha (a horizontal line above the letters) is crucial for this technique.

  • Language and Culture Interconnection- Dr. Kumar emphasizes the strong interconnection between language and culture, noting that the evolution of language reflects cultural progress. He points out that as India grows economically and culturally, its languages, including Hindi, will gain more prominence and evolve further. He advises looking at historical examples, such as the rise of English during the industrial and colonial periods, to understand this dynamic​.

  • Future of the Devanagari Script and Hindi- While predicting the future of a script or language over a century is challenging, Dr. Kumar is optimistic that as India progresses, its languages and scripts will also grow in prominence and adaptability. He underscores the importance of understanding the role of language within the broader context of cultural development.


Two of the most intriguing points from this interview were the standardisation of the script that occurred in the 1960s, although Dr. Kumar was of the opinion that it is necessary for uniformity and clarity of the script in creating a national language, as a communication designer I feel there is more to it than just about creating a uniform language. I decided to study more on this particular topic.


Second I was intrigued by the Kutakshar technique, and how I thought it was associated with the Nepali script only. Dr. Kumar mentioned how this technique can be applied to any language that uses the Devanagiri script. This really interested me and I decided to deep dive into Kutakshar technique as well.


This interview gave me some good insights into how to progress and I am grateful to Dr. Sanjay Kumar for sparing some time out for this interview.


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