IndLinux.org announces launch of Hindi interface for computers
Apr 3rd, 12:19 UTC
IndLinux.org's Milan software enables Hindi users to
use computers in their own language, a major leap
forward in bringing the benefits of information
technology to Indian masses
IndLinux.org announced the
launch of IndLinux Milan v0.37, a Hindi interface to
Gnome, the graphical user interface (GUI) of the
GNU/Linux operating system. The software is available
as a free download from the Web site www.indlinux.org.
With IndLinux Milan v0.37 installed, those who can read
and write Hindi can now use computers in their own
language.
The organization said that this is a major step forward
in bringing the benefits of information technology to
the 400 million people who speak the Hindi language.
Prakash Advani, co-founder of IndLinux.org said that
the organization has been working on localizing the
GNU/Linux operating system to Hindi for the last three
years. Localization involves changing the menus and
other elements of the graphic user interface from
English to Hindi.
"Hindi is the third largest language in the world, yet
there are no operating systems available in this
language. IndLinux.org therefore decided to make Hindi
support available for free to create a revolution in
Indian Language Computing," said Advani.
As the world becomes increasingly digitized, Indian
Language audiences need to be brought into the
mainstream of the digital revolution so that they can
also reap the socio-economic benefits of information
technology. The IndLinux Milan software is expected to
plug a critical gap in the market, since popular
operating systems and software are available only in
English which is spoken by a mere five percent of India.
IndLinux Milan v0.37 works on Red Hat Linux v8.0 and
the organization is working on porting it to other
distributions of the GNU/Linux operating system.
Advani said that they chose the name Milan (Hindi
for "Union") because it signifies the inclusion of
India's Hindi speaking masses into the mainstream of
the digital age.
As the cost of computers fall, the biggest bottleneck
to the widespread use of computers is the availability
of Indian language software. By making the software
available free of cost, Indlinux.org hopes that
information technology will reach each and every part
of India. IndLinux.org is a voluntary, non-profit
effort that has been supported by Netcore Solutions
Pvt. Ltd, a Mumbai-based technology company. After
having localized GNU/Linux to Hindi, the organization
hopes to localize the GUI to Marathi, Gujarati and
other Indian languages.
To download the Milan software (a 1.5MB download) click
on www.indlinux.org/downloads/index.php.
Screenshots and pictures of the operating system can be
downloaded from
www.indlinux.org/hindi/gnome/gnome20.html.
For more details, contact:
Prakash Advani,
Co-founder, IndLinux.org,
C/o Netcore Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
402, Peninsula Chambers (Morarjee Mills Compound),
Ganpat Rao Kadam Marg,
Lower Parel (W), Mumbai 400 013.
Tel: +91 22-5662 8000 Mobile: +91-98202 82922
Fax: +91 (22) 56628134
E-mail: prakash1 at netcore.co.in
Web: www.indlinux.org
(Submitted by Prakash Advani of FreeOS)
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