Shahmukhi,Gurmukhi software works offline

Amaninder Pal

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 30

Computer and language experts at Punjabi University, Patiala, have developed software that will enable users to transliterate Shahmukhi to Gurmukhi, Hindi to Urdu and vice-versa without internet access. This facility is currently available on some websites and portals.

Akhar-2016, launched here today by Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, has a bank of over 8.5 lakh words in Gurmukhi, Shahmukhi, Devanagari and Roman scripts.

The software will be able to execute 10 transliteration exercises, including Gurmukhi to Roman, Shahmukhi to Roman, Devanagari to Gurmukhi and vice-versa.

Prof Gurpreet Singh Lehal, Director, Research Centre for Punjabi Language Technology, said, “Once you download Akhar-2016, whatever text you type — in Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu — will be converted into Unicode and can be read on any computer/mobile screen.”

He said, “Translation, transliteration and Unicode conversion facilities will be available offline for the first time.” Akhar 2016 was developed by a team of 20 teachers and PhD scholars in seven years.