In a drive to take computers to the masses through local language interfaces, the IT Department today released free Hindi software tools and fonts, and said such software would made available in 22 Indian languages within the next six months. Releasing the software in the Capital, the National Advisory Council (NAC) Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, said, "With this launch, we have taken one more progressive step. Mr Rajiv Gandhi would have been happy to see the rapid strides that our country is taking in the IT sector, as this was his dream." The software can either be downloaded from the Web site www.ildc.gov.in or ordered in a CD format. The CD contains tools developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), IIIT, Hyderabad, and private companies such as Modular Infotech, Cyberscape Multimedia Ltd, Priya Informatics, Cadgraf Digital System Ltd, C K Technologies, Prologix and Softview. The tools in Hindi include Hindi True Type Fonts (TTF) with Font Driver, UNICODE-compliant Open Type Fonts (OTF) for Hindi, Hindi Language Multifont Keyboard Engine for TTF, Hindi UNICODE-compliant keyboard driver, BharateeyaOO.o in Hindi, Firefox browser in Hindi, GAIM-Multiprotocol Messenger in Hindi, Columba-Hindi e-mail client, Hindi OCR, Hindi dictionary, spellchecker, generic fonts code and storage code converter for Hindi, Assan typing tutor for Hindi and English, Integrated Word Processor, and Hindi language translation tool and text-to-speech system. Full news at http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/21/stories/2005062103180500. htm Madhuresh Singhal Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Electronic City, phase II, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560100 Phone 28521314-16 Ext.- 212 Mobile 98861 82822 E-mail: madhureshsinghal@yahoo.com http://nettalk2.tripod.com/