(Relatively) Phonetic Hindi Input

[amerikkanu]

For those who would like a more phonetic Hindi keyboard than is provided by the Phonetic, Itrans or Inscript keyboards in SCIM/M17n, I thought I'd share a couple of tweaks specific to Hindi input. I previously wrote a howto for Sanskrit input here, but obviously it's not ideal for Hindi. But based on the same setup, I've come up with two alternatives for Hindi. In both, the final virām or halant (्) is dropped by default from the ends of words. The first is for folks who still want a somewhat Sanskrit-like input for Hindi, i.e., (1) where you still type every consonant's inherent 'a' (अ) vowel within—but not at the end of—a word (e.g., करके = karake) and (2) the conjunct consonants combine automatically (e.g., प्रकाश = prakaash). The second alternative is for those who would like (1) every consonant's inherent 'a' (अ) vowel to be dropped by default (करके = karke) and (2) for conjunct consonants not to be combined automatically (here the 'w' or another dead key of your choice signals that a consonant should join with the following one, e.g., प्रकाश = wprakaash or wprkaash). I myself am not a fan of dead keys (like the 'w' in the second method), but I've included it for those who feel that not typing every 'a' within a word is worth typing a 'w' before every conjunct consonant. You of course can easily further tweak these setups to your liking, just be sure to avoid conflicts (which are not always obvious!). OK, for the setup:

1. Install and set up SCIM. Ubuntu has come a long way with preconfiguring the input method editor, SCIM, for us. It is now ready to go practically out of the box. All you need to do is go to: System > Administration > Language Support, check the box for Hindi, click Apply and then select the box for Enable support to enter complex characters. Click Apply and OK. In a terminal type:
   

   sudo aptitude install scim-m17n m17n-db m17n-lib-bin

   hit enter, and once m17n is installed, logout and log back in or reboot, and SCIM should be up and running. There is now a great page for SCIM documentation here, which should be your first stop if the above does not get SCIM running (with a keyboard on your panel).
2. Create a new input file.
   1. Create a new input method file:
      

      sudo gedit /usr/share/m17n/hi-itransish.mim

      Choose only one method of input below, select that text and copy it into your new hi-itransish.mim file and save:
      1. For those who prefer to type word-internal 'a' vowels and have conjunct consonants (e.g., क्ष ) combine automatically, copy and paste the text below, then save and exit:

         ;; hi-itransish.mim -- Hindi input method with ITRANS method
         ;; Copyright (C) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
         ;;   National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
         ;;   Registration Number H15PRO112
         
         ;; This file is part of the m17n database; a sub-part of the m17n
         ;; library.
         
         ;; The m17n library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
         ;; modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License
         ;; as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of
         ;; the License, or (at your option) any later version.
         
         ;; The m17n library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
         ;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
         ;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
         ;; Lesser General Public License for more details.
         
         ;; You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
         ;; License along with the m17n library; if not, write to the Free
         ;; Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
         ;; Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
         
         (input-method hi itransish)
         
         (description "Hindi input method by ITRANS transliteration.
         For the detail of ITRANS, see the page:
           <http://www.aczoom.com/itrans/>
         ")
         
         (title "क")
         
         (map
          (starter
           (".") ("~") ("#") ("$") ("^") ("*") ((S-\ )) ((C-@))
           ("0") ("1") ("2") ("3") ("4")
           ("5") ("6") ("7") ("8") ("9")
           ("A") ("C") ("D") ("E") ("G") ("H") ("I") ("J") ("K") ("L")
           ("M") ("N") ("O") ("R") ("S") ("T") ("U") ("Y")
           ("a") ("b") ("c") ("d") ("e") ("f") ("g") ("h") ("i")
           ("j") ("k") ("l") ("m") ("n") ("o") ("p") ("q") ("r")
           ("s") ("t") ("u") ("v") ("w") ("x") ("y") ("z")
           ((KP_1)) ((KP_2)) ((KP_3)) ((KP_4)) ((KP_5))
           ((KP_6)) ((KP_7)) ((KP_8)) ((KP_9)) ((KP_0)))
         
         (consonant
         ("k" "क्")
         ("kh" "ख्")
         ("g" "ग्")
         ("gh" "घ्")
         ("G" "ङ्")
         ("c" "च्")
         ("ch" "छ्")
         ("j" "ज्")
         ("jh" "झ्")
         ("~n" "ञ्")
         (".t" "ट्")
         (".th" "ठ्")
         (".d" "ड्")
         (".dh" "ढ्")
         (".n" "ण्")
         ("t" "त्")
         ("th" "थ्")
         ("d" "द्")
         ("dh" "ध्")
         ("n" "न्")
         ("xn" "ऩ्")
         ("p" "प्")
         ("ph" "फ्")
         ("b" "ब्")
         ("bh" "भ्")
         ("m" "म्")
         ("y" "य्")
         ("r" "र्")
         ("xr" "ऱ्")
         ("l" "ल्")
         ("xl" "ळ्")
         ("v" "व्")
         ("sh" "श्")
         (".s" "ष्")
         ("s" "स्")
         ("h" "ह्")
         ("q" "क़्")
         ("xkh" "ख़्")
         ("xg" "ग़्")
         ("xj" "ज़्")
         ("z" "ज़्")
         ("x.d" "ड़्")
         ("x.dh" "ढ़्")
         ("f" "फ़्")
         ("xy" "य़्")
         ("k " "क ")
         ("kh " "ख ")
         ("g " "ग ")
         ("gh " "घ ")
         ("G " "ङ ")
         ("c " "च ")
         ("ch " "छ ")
         ("j " "ज ")
         ("jh " "झ ")
         ("~n " "ञ ")
         (".t " "ट ")
         (".th " "ठ ")
         (".d " "ड ")
         (".dh " "ढ ")
         (".n " "ण ")
         ("t " "त ")
         ("th " "थ ")
         ("d " "द ")
         ("dh " "ध ")
         ("n " "न ")
         ("xn " "ऩ ")
         ("p " "प ")
         ("ph " "फ ")
         ("b " "ब ")
         ("bh " "भ ")
         ("m " "म ")
         ("y " "य ")
         ("r " "र ")
         ("xr " "ऱ ")
         ("l " "ल ")
         ("xl " "ळ ")
         ("v " "व ")
         ("sh " "श ")
         (".s " "ष ")
         ("Sh" "ष्")
         ("s " "स ")
         ("h " "ह ")
         ("q " "क़ ")
         ("xkh " "ख़ ")
         ("xg " "ग़ ")
         ("xj " "ज़ ")
         ("z " "ज़ ")
         ("x.d " "ड़ ")
         ("x.dh " "ढ़ ")
         ("f " "फ़ ")
         ("xy " "य़ ")
         ("j~n " "ज्ञ ")
         ("GY" "ज्ञ्")
         ("GY " "ज्ञ ")
         )
         
         (independent
         ("a" "अ")
         ("aa" "आ")
         ("A" "आ")
         ("i" "इ")
         ("ii" "ई")
         ("I" "ई")
         ("u" "उ")
         ("uu" "ऊ")
         ("U" "ऊ")
         (".r" "ऋ")
         ("RRi" "ऋ")
         ("R^i" "ऋ")
         ("LLi" "ऌ")
         ("L^i" "ऌ")
         (".l" "ऌ")
         ("^c" "ऍ")
         ("e^c" "ऍ")
         ("E" "ऎ")
         ("e" "ए")
         ("ai" "ऐ")
         ("o^c" "ऑ")
         ("O" "ऒ")
         ("o" "ओ")
         ("au" "औ")
         ("RRI" "ॠ")
         ("R^I" "ॠ")
         (".R" "ॠ")
         ("LLI" "ॡ")
         ("L^I" "ॡ")
         (".L" "ॡ")
         (".N" "ँ")
         (".m" "ं")
         ("M" "ं")
         ("H" "ः")
         (".a" "ऽ")
         (".`" "्")
         ("AUM" "ॐ")
         ("OM" "ॐ")
         (".." "।")
         (".," "॥")
         ("0" "०")
         ("1" "१")
         ("2" "२")
         ("3" "३")
         ("4" "४")
         ("5" "५")
         ("6" "६")
         ("7" "७")
         ("8" "८")
         ("9" "९")
         ("#" "्र")
         ("$" "र्")
         ("^" "त्र")
         ("*" "श्र")
         ("]" "़")
         ((S-\ ) "*")
         ((C-@) "*"))
         
         (dependent
         ("a" (delete @-) "")
         ("aa" (delete @-) "ा")
         ("A" (delete @-) "ा")
         ("i" (delete @-) "ि")
         ("ii" (delete @-) "ी")
         ("I" (delete @-) "ी")
         ("u" (delete @-) "ु")
         ("uu" (delete @-) "ू")
         ("U" (delete @-) "ू")
         ("RRi" (delete @-) "ृ")
         ("R^i" (delete @-) "ृ")
         (".r" (delete @-) "ृ")
         ("LLi" (delete @-) "ॢ")
         ("L^i" (delete @-) "ॢ")
         (".l" (delete @-) "ॢ")
         ("^c" (delete @-) "ॅ")
         ("e^c" (delete @-) "ॅ")
         ("E" (delete @-) "ॆ")
         ("e" (delete @-) "े")
         ("ai" (delete @-) "ै")
         ("o^c" (delete @-) "ॉ")
         ("O" (delete @-) "ॊ")
         ("o" (delete @-) "ो")
         ("au" (delete @-) "ौ")
         ("RRI" (delete @-) "ॄ")
         ("R^I" (delete @-) "ॄ")
         (".R" (delete @-) "ॄ")
         ("LLI" (delete @-) "ॣ")
         (".L" (delete @-) "ॣ")
         ("L^I" (delete @-) "ॣ"))
          (return
           ((Return)))
         
          (backspace
           ((BackSpace) (undo))))
         
         (state
          (init
           (starter (pushback 1) (shift intermediate)))
         
          (intermediate
           (consonant (shift second))
           (independent (shift init))
           (backspace)
           (return (shift init)))
         
          (second
           (consonant)
           (dependent (shift init))
           (backspace)
           (return (shift init))))
         
         ;; Local Variables:
         ;; coding: utf-8
         ;; mode: emacs-lisp
         ;; End:

         For those who prefer not to type word-internal 'a' vowels, but use a dead key to form conjunct consonants, copy and paste the text below, then save and exit:

         ;; hi-itransish.mim -- Hindi input method with ITRANS method
         ;; Copyright (C) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
         ;;   National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
         ;;   Registration Number H15PRO112
         
         ;; This file is part of the m17n database; a sub-part of the m17n
         ;; library.
         
         ;; The m17n library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
         ;; modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License
         ;; as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of
         ;; the License, or (at your option) any later version.
         
         ;; The m17n library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
         ;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
         ;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
         ;; Lesser General Public License for more details.
         
         ;; You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
         ;; License along with the m17n library; if not, write to the Free
         ;; Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
         ;; Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
         
         (input-method hi itransish)
         
         (description "Hindi input method by ITRANS transliteration.
         For the detail of ITRANS, see the page:
           <http://www.aczoom.com/itrans/>
         ")
         
         (title "क")
         
         (map
          (starter
           (".") ("~") ("#") ("$") ("^") ("*") ((S-\ )) ((C-@))
           ("0") ("1") ("2") ("3") ("4")
           ("5") ("6") ("7") ("8") ("9")
           ("A") ("C") ("D") ("E") ("G") ("H") ("I") ("J") ("K") ("L")
           ("M") ("N") ("O") ("R") ("S") ("T") ("U") ("Y")
           ("a") ("b") ("c") ("d") ("e") ("f") ("g") ("h") ("i")
           ("j") ("k") ("l") ("m") ("n") ("o") ("p") ("q") ("r")
           ("s") ("t") ("u") ("v") ("w") ("x") ("y") ("z")
           ((KP_1)) ((KP_2)) ((KP_3)) ((KP_4)) ((KP_5))
           ((KP_6)) ((KP_7)) ((KP_8)) ((KP_9)) ((KP_0)))
         
         (consonant
         ("k" "क")
         ("kh" "ख")
         ("g" "ग")
         ("gh" "घ")
         ("G" "ङ")
         ("c" "च")
         ("ch" "छ")
         ("j" "ज")
         ("jh" "झ")
         ("~n" "ञ")
         (".t" "ट")
         (".th" "ठ")
         (".d" "ड")
         (".dh" "ढ")
         (".n" "ण")
         ("t" "त")
         ("th" "थ")
         ("d" "द")
         ("dh" "ध")
         ("n" "न")
         ("xn" "ऩ")
         ("p" "प")
         ("ph" "फ")
         ("b" "ब")
         ("bh" "भ")
         ("m" "म")
         ("y" "य")
         ("r" "र")
         ("xr" "ऱ")
         ("l" "ल")
         ("xl" "ळ")
         ("v" "व")
         ("sh" "श")
         (".s" "ष")
         ("Sh" "ष")
         ("s" "स")
         ("h" "ह")
         ("q" "क़")
         ("xkh" "ख़")
         ("xg" "ग़")
         ("xj" "ज़")
         ("z" "ज़")
         ("x.d" "ड़")
         ("x.dh" "ढ़")
         ("f" "फ़")
         ("xy" "य़")
         ("j~n" "ज्ञ")
         ("GY" "ज्ञ")
         ("wk" "क्")
         ("wkh" "ख्")
         ("wg" "ग्")
         ("wgh" "घ्")
         ("wG" "ङ्")
         ("wc" "च्")
         ("wch" "छ्")
         ("wj" "ज्")
         ("wjh" "झ्")
         ("w~n" "ञ्")
         ("w.t" "ट्")
         ("w.th" "ठ्")
         ("w.d" "ड्")
         ("w.dh" "ढ्")
         ("w.n" "ण्")
         ("wt" "त्")
         ("wth" "थ्")
         ("wd" "द्")
         ("wdh" "ध्")
         ("wn" "न्")
         ("wxn" "ऩ्")
         ("wp" "प्")
         ("wph" "फ्")
         ("wb" "ब्")
         ("wbh" "भ्")
         ("wm" "म्")
         ("wy" "य्")
         ("wr" "र्")
         ("wxr" "ऱ्")
         ("wl" "ल्")
         ("wxl" "ळ्")
         ("wv" "व्")
         ("wsh" "श्")
         ("w.s" "ष्")
         ("wSh" "ष्")
         ("ws" "स्")
         ("wh" "ह्")
         ("wq" "क़्")
         ("wxkh" "ख़्")
         ("wxg" "ग़्")
         ("wxj" "ज़्")
         ("wz" "ज़्")
         ("wGY" "ज्ञ्")
         ("wx.d" "ड़्")
         ("wx.dh" "ढ़्")
         ("wf" "फ़्")
         ("wxy" "य़्"))
         
         (independent
         ("a" "अ")
         ("aa" "आ")
         ("A" "आ")
         ("i" "इ")
         ("ii" "ई")
         ("I" "ई")
         ("u" "उ")
         ("uu" "ऊ")
         ("U" "ऊ")
         (".r" "ऋ")
         ("RRi" "ऋ")
         ("R^i" "ऋ")
         (".l" "ऌ")
         ("^c" "ॅ")
         ("e^c" "ऍ")
         ("E" "ऎ")
         ("e" "ए")
         ("ai" "ऐ")
         ("o^c" "ऑ")
         ("O" "ऒ")
         ("o" "ओ")
         ("au" "औ")
         ("RRI" "ॠ")
         ("R^I" "ॠ")
         (".R" "ॠ")
         (".L" "ॡ")
         (".N" "ँ")
         (".m" "ं")
         ("M" "ं")
         ("H" "ः")
         (".a" "ऽ")
         (".`" "्")
         ("AUM" "ॐ")
         ("OM" "ॐ")
         (".." "।")
         (".," "॥")
         ("0" "०")
         ("1" "१")
         ("2" "२")
         ("3" "३")
         ("4" "४")
         ("5" "५")
         ("6" "६")
         ("7" "७")
         ("8" "८")
         ("9" "९")
         ("#" "्र")
         ("$" "र्")
         ("^" "त्र")
         ("*" "श्र")
         ("]" "़")
         ((S-\ ) "*")
         ((C-@) "*"))
         
         (dependent
         ("a" "")
         ("aa" "ा")
         ("A" "ा")
         ("i" "ि")
         ("ii" "ी")
         ("I" "ी")
         ("u" "ु")
         ("uu" "ू")
         ("U" "ू")
         ("RRi" "ृ")
         ("R^i" "ृ")
         (".r" "ृ")
         (".l" "ॢ")
         ("^c" "ॅ")
         ("E" "ॆ")
         ("e" "े")
         ("ai" "ै")
         ("o^c" "ॉ")
         ("O" "ॊ")
         ("o" "ो")
         ("au" "ौ")
         ("RRI" "ॄ")
         ("R^I" "ॄ")
         (".R" "ॄ")
         (".L" "ॣ"))
          (return
           ((Return)))
         
          (backspace
           ((BackSpace) (undo))))
         
         (state
          (init
           (starter (pushback 1) (shift intermediate)))
         
          (intermediate
           (consonant (shift second))
           (independent (shift init))
           (backspace)
           (return (shift init)))
         
          (second
           (consonant)
           (dependent (shift init))
           (backspace)
           (return (shift init))))
         
         ;; Local Variables:
         ;; coding: utf-8
         ;; mode: emacs-lisp
         ;; End:

3. Update the m17n database.
   1. Open the database file:

      sudo gedit /usr/share/m17n/mdb.dir

   2. Replace the following code

      (input-method * "*.mim")
      ;;; </ul>

      with
      

      (input-method * "*.mim")
      (input-method t hi-itransish "hi-itransish.mim")
      ;;; </ul>

   3. Save and exit the mdb.dir file.
4. Hold back m17n-db. One neat trick is to hold back the m17n database package so it won't update and overwrite your edits (you'll be warned first before dist-upgrades). To do that, enter in a terminal:

   echo "m17n-db hold" | sudo dpkg --set-selections

   and upgrades will bypass m17n, thus preserving your edits. If you opt not to hold that file, you'll just need to repeat the steps above after updates to m17n to show the m17n-db file your hi-itransish.mim file. For more information on holding and releasing packages, see here.
5. Reboot for your changes to take effect and then configure SCIM as necessary using "SCIM Setup."

That's it, शाबाश! You should now have a relatively more phonetic Hindi keyboard at your disposal. Please do post feedback on this howto so I can correct / update the post and help troubleshoot any problems. I am a linux newb btw, so if there's anything I'm missing here, please feel free to point it out. Thanks.

[harsh1kumar]

अच्छी पोस्ट है । धन्यवाद ।

[naklinaam]

Great post.. Thanks a ton.

I use the 1st option (explicit a after consonants).

Just have 1 questions.

1. How do I write "Ksh" as in "Kshatriya / Kshama" not looking for क्श.

2. I tried printing a staroffice spreadsheet with Hindi fonts but got only [] kind of boxes instead of the hindi font. I use an HP Laserjet 1018. Do I need to install some additional fonts for the printer?


Added on 21-Apr-2009:
upgrading to ubuntu 9.04 reversed this change for me. I am back to the original itrans file, and I got back my 'क्ष'
#the above post is missing an entry in the consonant section
("x" "क्ष्"). **CAUTION** adding this entry as is will conflict with the entries for ग़्, ज़्, ख़्, ऩ् etc. make sure to resolve all conflicts if you are doing it yourself*****

You could probably also add back the
("GY" "ज्ञ्") as that is how some people type / pronounce ज्ञ.

Can you please still help with printing question?

[amerikkanu]

Originally Posted by naklinaam Great post.. Thanks a ton.

Hi, thanks for the kudos and sorry for the delay...

I use the 1st option (explicit a after consonants). Just have 1 questions. 1. How do I write "Ksh" as in "Kshatriya / Kshama" not looking for क्श.

That would be written "k.s" since you need to use a retroflex 's' and I standardized a period for all retroflexes in the character map. If you want, however, you can simply go into that hi-itrans.mim file and modify your keyboard to suit your taste....

2. I tried printing a staroffice spreadsheet with Hindi fonts but got only [] kind of boxes instead of the hindi font. I use an HP Laserjet 1018. Do I need to install some additional fonts for the printer?

You shouldn't need to. You might want to try the command:

sudo apt-get install ttf-devanagari-fonts

to make sure that you've got a set of good unicode fonts available. There shouldn't be any real issues with nagari input in OpenOffice any more. It's probably just a matter of making sure you've got the right settings at this point -- which ought to be fixable by a visit to OOo's forums and a little googling. If that doesn't solve it, let me know. Enjoy!

[amerikkanu]

Originally Posted by billyg Can I use this method for urdu? کیا میں اس طریقے سے اردو استعمال کرسکتا ہوں؟

Hi, I take it you've already seen that m17n supports Arabic script input for Urdu. I don't know enough about that script to say whether it could be similarly tweaked for more phonetic input, sorry. Since you do know the script, though, you might want to dig around in the relevant files in the m17n directory "/usr/share/m17n/". Tweaking isn't difficult and the syntax rules are fairly simple to derive. Best of luck!

[sojusnik]

As mentioned in a related topic: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=646207&page=3

the modifications suggested here are not working with SCIM under jaunty jackalope.

Every help appreciated.

[amerikkanu]

Originally Posted by naklinaam Great post.. Thanks a ton. I use the 1st option (explicit a after consonants). Just have 1 questions. 1. How do I write "Ksh" as in "Kshatriya / Kshama" not looking for क्श. 2. I tried printing a staroffice spreadsheet with Hindi fonts but got only [] kind of boxes instead of the hindi font. I use an HP Laserjet 1018. Do I need to install some additional fonts for the printer? Added on 21-Apr-2009: upgrading to ubuntu 9.04 reversed this change for me. I am back to the original itrans file, and I got back my 'क्ष' #the above post is missing an entry in the consonant section ("x" "क्ष्"). **CAUTION** adding this entry as is will conflict with the entries for ग़्, ज़्, ख़्, ऩ् etc. make sure to resolve all conflicts if you are doing it yourself***** You could probably also add back the ("GY" "ज्ञ्") as that is how some people type / pronounce ज्ञ. Can you please still help with printing question?

Hi and thanks for the feedback. I was able to get this method working again via a new input file (which I named itransish), so there's no need now for editing the original itrans file -- which will prevent the new file from being overwritten with updates to m17n (though the database file will be, so that will need to be tweaked after updates to m17n). In doing that, I put a few of the combinations you mentioned back in, where there weren't conflicts: GY for ज्ञ्, Sh for ष् (so that क्ष can be written with "kSh" or "k.s"). Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to your printer/Star Office question. As that problem isn't specific to the tweaks listed here (as evidenced by the fact that it happens with the original itrans file), CUPS, SCIM or Star Office forums ought to be of more help.

[amerikkanu]

Originally Posted by sojusnik As mentioned in a related topic: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=646207&page=3 the modifications suggested here are not working with SCIM under jaunty jackalope. Every help appreciated.

I've gone through this method again on my computer after updating to Jaunty and it works for me. I don't understand your problem, since all the files are in their same directory on my system. Did you do a fresh install?

[forthe]

आपके द्वारा बनाया हुआ कीबोर्ड बहुत बडिया है. धन्यवाद .

कुछ changes मैनें किये हैं जैसे "च" लिखने के लिये "c" कि जगह "ch" कर दिया है और "छ" के लिये "chh" जो की मेरे अनुकूल है. इससे पहले इतना अच्छा कीबोर्ड मुझे विन्डोज़ एक्स पी में "hindiwriter" नामक साफ़्टवेयर से मिला था. आपका उससे भी अच्छा है.

[naklinaam]

@amerikkanu,
Hi, Me again, and once gain, thanks a ton for this great guide.

I used this guide to configure ubuntu 8.10 with a Hindi keyboard and it worked great.

I upgraded to 9.04, and tried the same script and it worked there as well.

However, i did a fresh install of 9.04 recently and have run into some issue

It works great for all keyboards other than 'hi-itrans' (I still followed the old settings).
I have run into a crazy issue. Whenever I select Hindi Itrans from the SCIM list, it remains stuck with the previous selection (English keyboard or Bengali or whatever else I maght have tested with before Hindi). I am also able to invoke hindi Remington etc..
The only keyboard which does not work is the hindi itrans.

Can you please help me get that working? I dont even know what information mighthelp solve it.
The first thing I would like to look at is where do I map the choice I made from the scim panel to the actual file used for that choice. I guess something might be missing there.
Can you please help as this is the only keyboard I really want to use in addition to English.