Hands that Speak: Exploring Indian Sign Language

Indian is a multicultural, diverse country. Different places of the world have different sign languages. Indian Sign Language is a combination of hand and facial movements used by Ddeaf and Hard of Hearing communities to communicate with people. It has its own grammar, syntax, and 'dialects'. According to research conducted over the years, Indian Sign Language has significant commonalities with the sign languages used in Pakistan and Nepal. In India, Indian Sign Language is a widely used and well developed method of communication for the Deaf community. The symbols or signs considered for recognition include 17 letters of the English alphabet.

There are around 135 sign languages in the world. The first reported use of Indian Sign Language was in the 19th century but it was associated with the stigma of impairment far into the 20th century. The major distinction between sign language and spoken language is that sign language is visual whereas spoken language is auditory.

Education has a crucial role to play in ensuring physical, mental, and social well-being and in promoting the national development of the country. The primary aim of education is to enable individuals to gain independence, citizenship, appropriate employment, economic freedom, and self-determination.

Goals and Plans for New Education Policy

Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) Agenda for sustainable development which India adopted in 2015 aims to provide inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030. To fulfill all of the important targets and goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, the entire educational system will need to be redesigned to support and nurture learning.

The goal must be for India to establish an education system by 2040 with equitable access to high quality education for all learners regardless of social or economic status.

The National Education Policy is the country's first education policy with the purpose of addressing many growing development imperatives. This policy proposes that all components of the education structure including regulation and governance be revised and revamped in order to develop a new system that is linked with the operational objectives of 21st century education including SDG4 while preserving India's traditions and value systems.

The new education policy ensures that all students regardless of background have access to high quality education with a strong emphasis on historically marginalized and disadvantaged groups. Education is the most effective means of attaining economic and social mobility, inclusion, and equality. Initiatives must be made to ensure that all students from such groups have access to a variety of opportunities to participate and thrive in the educational system.

These components must be implemented while taking into consideration the country's local and global needs as well as preserving the country's unique diversity and culture. For the purpose of national honor, self confidence, self knowledge, partnership, and inclusion, it is considered critical to instill knowledge of India and its diverse social, cultural. and economic needs as well as its exceptional artistic language, traditions, and strong ethics in India's young people.

The New Education Policy has been labeled 'transformative' since it strives to reform the entire process in order to ensure India's overall progress. One of the essential aspects that the present government has adopted is the inclusion of all sections of the country. Deaf community will have access to basic services if a uniform sign language is adopted.

In India, the National Education Policy aims to standardize the teaching of Indian sign language in a mainstream school for the Ddeaf and Hard of Hearing learners. The adoption of uniform sign language is expected to enhance access to quality services for the deaf community. With the new policies introduced, more awareness can be created and support can be provided to Ddeaf learners as soon as possible, enabling them to succeed.

Changes and Various Reforms for the Standardization and Mainstreaming of Sign Language

According to the report, the National Disability Network on critical issues of Disabled persons in India emphasizes that Deaf people also have a difficult time accessing public services. In public areas, there are no proper signage or information. It also suggests that appropriate actions including legislative change be taken to assist people with disabilities during disasters and emergencies.

The Ali Yavar Institute created a course in 2001 to teach Indian Sign Language trainers across India. The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) was established in Delhi, ten years later by the Union Ministry of Social Justice. In 2018, the centre published the first Indian Sign Language Dictionary which included 3,000 words. The Rights of Person with Disabilities Act accelerated the process by mandating Inclusive sign language education and public building accessibility.

According to data, the country has 250 sign language interpreters. This proportion appears to fit nowhere when considering the deaf population which is believed to be 1.8 million individuals according to 2011 census, while the National Association of Deaf puts it at a more reasonable estimate of 18 million people. The government's policy will definitely standardize the study of sign language and help in the integration process.

It is also expected that sign language rules will be adopted only after engagement with deaf groups across the country ensuring that no one is left behind. The requirement of the hour is for state and local governments to build sign language learning institutes that would train and develop professionals. This would entail the hiring of sign language interpreters in a range of departments. If an education system fails to provide access to student's learning, it fails to generate a fully integrated society. Adoption of sign language as a part of mainstream education is critical for all children with hearing disabilities to be able to communicate. 

Final Thoughts

While the National Education Policy aims to mainstream Indian Sign Language, the deaf community demands more content, mainstreaming sign language beyond the community, and bilingual education for Ddeaf and Hard of Hearing learners. As a result, standardizing Indian Sign Language should be a collaborative and transparent effort.

References

• Patil, A. (2019). Indian Sign Language: An Introduction. Oxford University Press.

• Sharma, R., & Singh, M. (2020). The Role of Gesture in Indian Sign Language. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 25(2), 178-192.

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• National Association of the Deaf. (2021). Introduction to Indian Sign Language. https://www.nad.org/introduction-to-indian-sign-language/

• Kumar, S. (2018). A Comparative Study of Indian Sign Language and American Sign Language. University of Delhi.