8th October 2023, Kathmandu
Madan Bhandari Memorial College successfully concluded the groundbreaking international Hackathon program, “MBM Idea X Hackathon,” dedicated to the “Preservation and Promotion of Indigenous Languages” through Information and Technology. The initiative received support from UNESCO and collaboration from Prabhu Bank.
More than 48 national and international teams, comprising a total of 450 participants, demonstrated keen interest in this unique endeavor. After rigorous selection, a distinguished committee chose 13 teams (48 participants) representing various cities to participate in the final round.
From October 6th to 8th, 2023, participants engaged in relentless coding sessions on the college premises to develop innovative programming tools aimed at safeguarding and preserving Nepal’s indigenous languages. Their efforts culminated at the “Tamu Baudha Sewa Samiti Hall, Anamnagar,” where each team showcased their software products for evaluation by a panel of judges.
Mr. Ramesh Chandra Paudel, Principal of Madan Bhandari Memorial College, warmly welcomed the esteemed guests, judges, media, mentors, and participants. He lauded the participants for their unwavering dedication and hard work, emphasizing the importance of their initiative.
MBM Idea X Hackathon
Mr. Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Chairperson of Madan Bhandari Memorial College, underscored the significance of the Hackathon program and commended all participants for their contributions towards preserving Nepal’s rich linguistic diversity. He emphasized, “Each language embodies its unique culture, and our responsibility is to preserve, protect, develop, and promote them. Technology can play a vital role in achieving this, and Madan Bhandari College stands firmly with you in this endeavor.”
Gopal Thakur, the head of the Language Commission, stressed the pivotal role of information technology, machine learning, and machine translation in safeguarding indigenous languages. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Language Commission to support such programs, recognizing all languages spoken in Nepal as constitutionally recognized national languages.
Prof. Dr. Bhim Gautam, a Language Expert from the Central Department of Linguistics, acknowledged that the Hackathon program successfully addressed many linguistic challenges. He expressed his optimism about the future, hinting at the possibility of organizing a “Linguistic Hackathon” soon.
In the culmination of the program, Team Xenon: Xeno Lingo from IOE, Pulchowk Campus secured the first position. Team Lipi: Lipi from Mechi Multiple Campus, Team The Misfits: Native Tunes from IOE, Pulchowk Campus, and Team King Coders: NepBoard Mechi Multiple Campus claimed the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions, respectively. These teams were rewarded with prizes of Nrs 25,000, 15,000, and 10,000, along with merit certificates. Every participant received recognition with merit certificates for their valuable contributions.
Mr. Chiranjibi Adhikari, General Secretary of the CAN Federation, hailed “MBM Idea X 2023” as a platform connecting technology with Nepal’s local languages to promote indigenous linguistic heritage.
The Chief Guest of the ceremony, Mr. Pandey, the Chairperson of MBM, concluded by committing to organizing the next edition of the “MBM Idea X” hackathon program.
In closing, heartfelt thanks were extended to all distinguished guests, judges, media, mentors, participants, domain experts, management board committee, volunteers, and students for their active participation in making this program a resounding success.
