The staff and students of Rishikul Sanatan College yesterday celebrated the significance of Fiji’s second most commonly spoken vernacular language, Hindi, at the school hall in Nasinu.

A spectacle of traditional Indian dances, folk songs and drama acts were choreographed to commemorate the event, with a few schools from the Western division also in attendance.

Chief Guest Permanent Secretary for Education, Heritage and Arts Iowane Tiko said the Ministry of Education would continue to “promote and market” Hindi in a bid to preserve the ancient tongue.

“The Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts had encouraged school heads to celebrate Hindi Day,” Mr Tiko said.

“It is an advantage for all of us to live in a multiracial country like Fiji. Here, we get a chance to learn each other’s cultures, languages and customs.

On September 14, 1949 the Indian Constituent Assembly made Hindi the official language of India.

Today, the language is the mother tongue to over 258 million people across the globe and is considered the fourth largest language in the world.

It is spoken in various countries outside of India including Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Nepal and in many other countries, as well.

Future of Hindi

“The future of Hindi is bright under the Ministry of Education’s efforts to promote Hindi wholeheartedly,” said India’s High Commissioner to Fiji Vishvas Sapkal.

Students from Years 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13 were also given awards at the function for recording high national scores in their Hindi language external examinations.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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