It was a proud moment for Nemani Bainivalu, 48, when he received an award for his contribution to the Hindi language in Fiji during World Hindi Day celebrations in Suva last night.

Mr Bainivalu is the programme host for the FBC TV’s language sharing programme, ‘Wasea Bhasha’.

“I am so happy and thankful to the Indian High Commission for giving an award for promoting and encouraging people to study Hindi,” he said.

He is a secondary school teacher and teaches Hindi, iTaukei and English languages, but is currently on leave and studying BA in literature, language and communications at the University of the South Pacific. World Hindi Day is usually celebrated on January 10, but it was celebrated yesterday.

This is the first time the Indian High Commission has awarded three people for promoting the Hindi language in Fiji.

Mr Bainivalu is originally from Vesaru, Ba, where he attended Vesaru Indian School.

“With other compulsory subjects, I learned the Hindi language,” he said.

Mr Bainivalu said he had developed an interest in the Hindi language because everyone in his family spoke in Fiji-Hindi.

“I was also fortunate to complete a Diploma in Hindi at University of the South Pacific,” he said.

He is writing a book (yet to be named) on Hindi and iTaukei language which is expected to be launched in June or July this year.

Anup Kumar, 54, a Hindi teacher at Jasper Williams High School in Lautoka was also happy to be acknowledged.

Mr Kumar said youths in Fiji were forgetting their mother tongue.

“They are forgetting that our culture is our identity,” he said.

When Mr Kumar decided to study Hindi, he said some of his friends and family members were against it.

“My parents supported me and today I am proud to receive an award for contributing towards the language in Fiji,” he said.

He intends to encourage youths here to speak their mother tongue.

Chief guest and Minister for Education Mahendra Reddy said Fijians should be proud of their language.

“The Ministry for Education has always given importance to Hindi subjects in primary, secondary and universities in Fiji,” he said.

Edited by Manasa Kalouniviti

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