Hack of the day: Speak to anyone in India in their own language
“The Times of India’ brings you ‘Hack of the Day’—a new weekday series of quick, practical solutions to everyday hassles. Each hack is designed to save you time, money or stress, using tools and features within your reach—from government websites to everyday apps. In simple terms, it’s simple fixes for smarter living.”India is home to more than 22 officially recognized languages and hundreds of dialects. For travelers, business owners, or anyone moving across regions, language barriers can make everyday interactions challenging — whether it’s asking for directions, negotiating with vendors, or holding meetings. This hack solves that problem by letting you speak in your language and be instantly understood in theirs.
The solution
The Bhashini app, developed by the Government of India, offers real-time voice-to-voice translation across 22+ Indian languages. It’s designed to make conversations seamless, bridging gaps between Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, and many more.
How to use it
- Download the Bhashini app (Govt of India).
- Open “Converse” mode.
- Select your language (e.g., Hindi) and the other person’s language (e.g., Tamil).
- Tap the mic and speak — your words will play back instantly in the other language.
- The other person speaks into the mic, and you hear it in your own language.
