Natural language processing as Digital Veda (डजटल वद): a humanistic framework for language, ethics, and AI

Abstract This article conceptualizes Natural Language Processing (NLP) as the Digital Veda (डिजिटल वेद), framing it as a culturally rooted communicative infrastructure inspired by the Vedic tradition of structured knowledge preservation and ethical discourse. Drawing on India’s linguistic and philosophical heritage, it positions NLP not as a neutral tool, but as an evolving ecosystem shaped by human values, language ideologies, and socio-cultural narratives. By mapping the four Vedas to key NLP domains, Rigveda (language modelling), Yajurveda (syntax and pipelines), Samaveda (phonetics and speech), and Atharvaveda (applied AI), the study illustrates how contemporary language technologies mirror ancient systems of meaning-making. It offers a critical, decolonial lens on mainstream NLP, highlighting digital language hierarchies, the marginalization of low-resource Indian languages, and biases embedded in large language model (LLM) training data. The article further proposes a Vedic-inspired ethical AI framework, grounded in the principles of Dharma (righteous design), Ahimsa (non-harm), and Moksha (AI for truth and well-being). This interdisciplinary perspective contributes to a more inclusive, context-aware vision for language technologies, with practical applications in multilingual NLP, bias mitigation, and ethically aligned AI governance. It is particularly relevant for AI ethicists, digital humanists, NLP researchers, and policymakers committed to culturally informed, responsible innovation.