The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is organizing a National Conference on Tribal Languages and Museums in Mysuru, Karnataka, from August 24 to 26, 2026. For the first time, discussions will be held on a single platform regarding the documentation, preservation, and revitalization of tribal languages, alongside the strengthening of Tribal Museums and Freedom Fighter Museums (TFFMs). This initiative marks a significant step towards preserving India’s rich traditional heritage under the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ vision.
India’s tribal languages embody a wealth of knowledge regarding the environment, medicine, agriculture, and culture. The Ministry has organized a national conference dedicated to their preservation and revitalization, aiming to formulate a national roadmap for documentation, conservation, and revival based on the priorities of the communities.
The conclave will be inaugurated by Shri Durgadas Uikey, the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs. Senior officials and dignitaries from the Ministry, the Government of Karnataka, and CIIL will be present on the occasion. During the inaugural session, primers for tribal languages of Karnataka will be released, an MoU between the Ministry and CIIL will be signed, a chatbot will be launched, and major upgrades to the ‘Adi Vani’ platform—including a new iOS app, the addition of five more languages, and enhanced features—will be unveiled.
This conclave will advance the vision announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in his 2016 Independence Day speech to recognize the contribution of tribal communities to India’s freedom struggle. With the approval of 11 Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museums (TFFMs) across 10 states, this conclave will formulate a shared vision for tribal museums and TFFMs.
The discussions on the first day will focus on language-related technologies—such as Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), text-to-speech, and machine translation—as well as efforts to promote Multilingual Education (MLE). Key issues concerning data security and classification will also be addressed. Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) from across the country will showcase their initiatives and best practices regarding the documentation and preservation of tribal languages.
The second day will begin with a panel discussion focused on the expectations of tribal communities and language revitalization, featuring grassroots activists and community-based linguists. This will be followed by the drafting, adoption, and signing of a declaration on tribal languages. The conference’s second session will focus on tribal museums, covering topics such as the authentic portrayal of the freedom struggle, museum planning, modern digital technologies (AR/VR), interactive exhibits, and community participation.
This conclave will bring together key stakeholders from across the country to strengthen the preservation of tribal languages, multilingual education, and the development of tribal museums. Its objective is to create a shared national vision through community-led revitalization models, a declaration on tribal languages, and enhanced research, curation, preservation, technology, and community participation.
(PIB)
