Language is very important for any cultural group, says Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Mahendra Reddy.

“Language keeps people together; language allows people to acquire new knowledge.

“We want people to maintain whatever native language they have maintained to our national language which is English,” he said.

Mr Reddy said this yesterday in the opening of the commemoration of the National Hindi Day at the Rishikul Sanatan College hall in Nasinu.

“The ministry is facilitating for students to take Hindi but I think the motivation should come from their parents. We cannot force students to take up a particular language.

“While it is compulsory in primary school beyond those parents need to motivate their children,” he said.

Mr Reddy said in order to protect a culture, religion, values and customs; people needed to practice their language.

“We want our today’s society to maintain our language but the question is how do we maintain our language.

“Today’s societies think that if we give an English name to our children, then they will be successful in their life,” he said.

Mr Reddy said during their ancestors’ lifetime, English names were not given to their children and there were so many successful people around.

Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Vishvas Sapkal said it was very important for people to practice their language and urged everyone to take pride in their culture and language.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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