In a significant step towards strengthening the use of Hindi in public services and making banking more accessible to citizens across the country, the Bank of India organised an All-India Official Language (Rajbhasha) Seminar on 7 February 2026. Hosted by the Official Language Department at the Bank’s Head Office, the seminar brought together the institution’s senior leadership along with Official Language representatives from leading financial institutions. The initiative focused on the effective implementation of Hindi in banking operations and encouraged greater linguistic inclusivity, communication clarity, and creative engagement with the Official Language within the financial ecosystem.
The seminar was attended by the Bank’s Executive Directors Shri P. R. Rajagopal, Shri Rajiv Mishra and Shri Pramod Kumar Dwivedi, along with the Chief Vigilance Officer Shri Vishnu Kumar Gupta. Renowned actor and writer Shri Akhilendra Mishra was present as the Guest of Honour. The keynote speakers for the programme were Shri Harish Singh Chauhan, Deputy Director, Regional Implementation Office (West), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and Prof. Karunashankar Upadhyay, Head of the Hindi Department, University of Mumbai, who shared their views. The programme commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. The welcome address was delivered by General Manager Shri Vishwajit Mishra, and the guests were formally welcomed by Chief General Manager Shri Abhijit Bose.
In his address, Executive Director Shri Rajiv Mishra stated that Hindi is not merely a language of administrative work but also a powerful medium for the expression of emotions, thoughts, and culture. He elaborated on the creative and technological initiatives being undertaken by the Bank to promote the use of Hindi.
On this occasion, marking World Hindi Day 2026, a book compiling the best essays from the Inter-Bank Hindi Essay Writing Competition titled “Bhaarateey Arthavyavastha Aur Aadhunik Bainking: Data, Bhaasha Aur Gen Z” was released. Additionally, the December 2025 issue of the Bank’s quarterly in-house Hindi magazine “BOI Varta” was released. The Hindi edition of the Instruction Manual (Deposits) was also unveiled. Winners of the All-India Hindi Essay Competition were felicitated with certificates and prize money. On this occasion, the Official Language In-charge, Ms. Mou Maitra, Assistant General Manager (Official Language), made a special presentation on Official Language implementation and highlighted the Bank’s achievements in the field of Official Language.
During the discussion session of the seminar, Shri Harish Singh Chauhan delivered a detailed lecture on the Hindi language and linguistics, while Prof. Karunashankar Upadhyay spoke in detail on the standard scientific methodology of Hindi. All the participants present benefited enthusiastically from these deliberations.
Guest of Honour Shri Akhilendra Mishra, in his inspiring address, highlighted the interrelationship between language, literature, and life, emphasizing the simplicity, communicative strength, and cultural significance of the Hindi language. He also enlightened the audience on the art of living life through language.
The seminar marked an important milestone in advancing the Official Language policy of Bank of India and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to expanding the use of Hindi across banking operations and public communication. The programme witnessed the presence of Executive Directors Shri P. R. Rajagopal, Shri Rajiv Mishra, and Shri Pramod Kumar Dwivedi; Chief Vigilance Officer Shri Vishnu Gupta; along with Chief General Managers, General Managers, and senior officers from various financial institutions, as well as members of the Bank’s Official Language Department. The session was conducted by Shri Amrish Kumar, Chief Manager (Official Language), and concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Captain Akhilesh Kumar, Deputy General Manager — underscoring the collective effort to promote linguistic inclusivity and strengthen citizen-centric banking services across India.
