 |
| KISS Student Dr. Bikram Biruli Creates History: First Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Ho Society |
In a remarkable milestone for both the academic and indigenous communities, Dr. Bikram Biruli has successfully completed his Ph.D. Open Defense Viva-Voce at KISS Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar. His pioneering research, titled “Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Recognition for Language Maintenance in Ho Language”, marks the first-ever Ph.D. on Artificial Intelligence within the Ho society.
Guided by Dr. Yasobanta Das and Dr. Satya Ranjan Dash from the School of Indigenous Knowledge, Science and Technology (Computer Science Department), Dr. Biruli’s work sets a shining example of how cutting-edge technology can be applied to preserve and promote indigenous languages in today’s rapidly evolving digital world.
The Core of the Research
Dr. Biruli’s research focuses on applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to safeguard and advance the Ho language, a tribal language spoken predominantly in parts of Jharkhand, Odisha, and neighboring regions.
The highlight of his contribution is the creation of the first-ever Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) dataset for the Ho language. Until now, there had been no dataset or platform dedicated to ASR for low-resource or indigenous languages like Ho. This innovation fills a critical gap and provides a foundation for future AI-powered applications that could support education, cultural preservation, and digital communication in indigenous languages.
By leveraging AI tools such as text corpora and speech recognition, his work offers practical solutions to ensure the sustainability of linguistic traditions that face the risk of decline in the digital era.
Why This Achievement Matters
- A First in History: This is the first Ph.D. on Artificial Intelligence in the Ho community, symbolizing both academic excellence and cultural preservation.
- Preserving Indigenous Identity: Languages are the backbone of cultural identity. By using AI to strengthen Ho, Dr. Biruli contributes to protecting intangible heritage for future generations.
- Global Inspiration: His work demonstrates how AI can be adapted for indigenous languages worldwide, inspiring similar projects across cultures facing linguistic challenges.
- A Milestone for Digital Inclusion: The ASR dataset ensures that even low-resource languages have a place in digital platforms, bridging the gap between technology and tradition.
Gratitude and Acknowledgment
During his Ph.D. defense, Dr. Biruli expressed his heartfelt gratitude to:
- Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT & KISS, for his vision and institutional support.
- The University faculty and family, for their academic guidance.
- His own family and well-wishers, whose unwavering support carried him through this journey.
Long Summary
The completion of Dr. Bikram Biruli’s Ph.D. is not only a personal triumph but also a collective victory for the Ho community and the larger indigenous academic movement. His thesis—“Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Recognition for Language Maintenance in Ho Language”—is a pioneering work at the intersection of computer science and cultural preservation.
By developing the first ASR dataset for Ho, he has opened doors for innovations in AI-driven speech recognition, digital education tools, translation systems, and language learning apps tailored for tribal communities. These contributions are particularly significant because indigenous languages are often classified as low-resource languages, lacking digital resources and at risk of extinction.
This achievement also places the Ho community on the global academic map, setting a precedent for future scholars and innovators. It proves that technology, when guided with cultural sensitivity, can be a powerful ally in preserving heritage.
In an era where languages worldwide are disappearing at an alarming rate, Dr. Biruli’s work demonstrates that AI can play a transformative role in revitalizing and sustaining endangered languages. His accomplishment inspires not only the Ho people but also linguists, technologists, and indigenous groups across the globe.
Conclusion
Dr. Bikram Biruli’s Ph.D. is more than an academic degree—it is a historic achievement for the Ho society, a milestone in AI research, and a ray of hope for indigenous language preservation. His contribution will undoubtedly inspire future generations to combine technology with tradition, ensuring that cultural identities continue to thrive in the digital era.
