Uttarakhand to Promote Regional Languages: Weekly Speech and Essay Competitions in Schools

Dehradun | June 9, 2025

In a major cultural move, the Uttarakhand government has announced that all schools in the state will conduct speech and essay competitions in local dialects once a week. The initiative aims to revive and promote the use of Uttarakhand’s regional languages among students.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami during the general body meeting of the Uttarakhand Language Institute held at the state secretariat in Dehradun.

Digital Preservation of Culture

The Chief Minister also emphasized the need to digitally preserve the state’s folk tales, songs, dialects, and literature. Plans include the creation of an e-library, audio-visual content based on local stories, and a linguistic map of Uttarakhand’s dialects.

Literary Recognition and Youth Engagement

• The Uttarakhand Sahitya Bhushan Award has been increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹5.51 lakh.
• A new Long-Term Literary Service Award will be instituted with a prize of ₹5 lakh.
• The state will launch a “Young Writers’ Competition” to encourage budding authors aged 18–24 and 25–35 years.

To further support reading culture in remote areas, the government will also introduce mobile libraries and collaborate with major publishers to ensure the availability of diverse literary resources.

Preservation of Folk Heritage

One of the key initiatives includes the documentation of ‘Bakna’, a traditional style of Pandavani singing practiced in the Jaunsar-Bawar region since ancient times. The institute also plans to compile literature by renowned dramatist Govind Ballabh Pant and collect works by Uttarakhand authors published in Indian journals and magazines over the last 50–100 years.

‘Book Instead of Bouquet’ Movement

CM Dhami urged people of the state to gift books instead of bouquets during ceremonies and events, promoting a culture of reading and intellectual exchange.

Literary Villages to Be Established

The state will establish two ‘Literary Villages’, spaces nestled in nature where writers can gather for creative discussions, workshops, and cultural exchange.