Vishwa Hindi Diwas (World Hindi Day) was celebrated at the Indian High Commission premises in Wellington on January 10.
The day commemorates efforts to promote the language and also marks the first time that Hindi was used in the United Nations General Assembly.
The function was marked by song and dance performances by students of the Wellington Hindi School, as well as by poetry recital and quiz programmes.
Dr Sunita Sharma’s book, Chir Parishit, was launched on the occasion.
The winners of the 2023 Vishwa Hindi Diwas poster and essay competitions were also announced, for which prizes will be distributed on the Republic Day of India on January 26.
Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner of India to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan said: “Hindi is our national language, and for many of us it is our mother tongue too.……..Hindi is among the most widely spoken languages globally, alongside Mandarin, Spanish and English. Hindi is taught at over 100 universities.”
She commended the diaspora in NZ for its efforts in keeping Hindi alive and encouraging youngsters to read, write and speak in the language.
High Commissioner Bhushan read out a message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that Hindi played an important role in the communication of Indian knowledge and culture. The increasing use of Hindi in the field of information and its popularity among the youth presented a bright future, she quoted the prime minister as saying.
Wellington Hindi School Coordinator Sunita Narayan presented facts and figures to trace the progress made in the propagation 0f Hindi in New Zealand. Hindi is among the five Indian languages on the list of 23 most spoken in New Zealand, she noted.
Head of Chancery and Second Secretary (Consular) Mukesh Ghiya updated the audience on the revision of fees for consular services [with effect from January 11]. He assured everyone the revision was “mostly downward.”
He cautioned the public against applying for consular services at the old rates.
Ghiya also alerted the community to the rule change around citizenship. As per the new rules, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) applications must be accompanied by certificates of Renunciation of Citizenship. Formerly, OCI status was granted after surrender of the Indian passport alone. He urged people to consult the Indian High Commission website or send emails for clarification.
The online application for OCI must be followed up by submitting a “physical print-out” as well, Ghiya added.
The function closed with an open house for audience members to recite poems written by them in Hindi.
The World Hindi Conference was inaugurated by then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi on 10 January 1975.
World Hindi Day was inaugurated by then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 10 January 2006, making it an annual event on the national calendar.