‘Aatmanirbharta’ named as Oxford Hindi word of the year 2020

New Delhi: ‘Aatmanirbharta’, meaning self-reliance has been named as Oxford Hindi word of the year 2020.

The Hindi word of 2020 was chosen by an advisory panel of language experts Kritika Agrawal, Poonam Nigam Sahay and Imogen Foxell.

In her statement, Kritika Agarwal was quoted saying, “gives a voice to the strength displayed by young and old alike in dealing with extended periods of isolation, lack of familial support, loss of livelihoods and other difficulties through sheer determination and self-reliance.”

Oxford Hindi Word of the Year is आत्मनिर्भरता #Atmanirbharta (Self Reliance).

Keeping up with Bharat. https://t.co/Ztc5M21OMl

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 3, 2021

The meaning of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in English is self-reliance. The word gained popularity after PM Modi stressed that we as a country gave to become self-reliant to drive away the perils of the deadly coronavirus. The ‘Aatmanirbhar’ India campaign is the large-scale manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

Following PM Modi’s address, there was a massive increase in the usage of the word ‘aatmanirbharta’, highlighting its increased prominence as a phrase and concept in the public lexicon of India, it said.

One of the standout successes of the entire Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign is the large-scale manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine in India. The Department of Biotechnology highlighted the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign and showcased the COVID-19 vaccine development process in its tableau at Rajpath during the Republic Day parade.

While, Oxford University Press India managing director, Sivaramarkrishnan Venkateswaran in his statement said, “In an unprecedented year, aatmanirbharta found resonance with a wide cross-section of people as it is seen to be an answer to the revival of a Covid-impacted economy.”