Hindi bid a step closer
An Auckland group’s quest to have the Hindi language taught in New Zealand schools has taken one small step closer to fruition.
The first Hindi class, comprising 10 students, was held at the Papatoetoe Intermediate School on Sunday May 8, and the organisers are excited that this could lead to a mainstream teaching of the vernacular subject.
The project is being driven by the Hindi Language and Culture Trust, headed by Auckland school teacher Satya Dutt.
And Mr Dutt and the trust’s efforts have been further bolstered by timely support from National Party’s Papatoetoe MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.
Mr Dutt told the Indian Weekender that Mr Bakshi had lent his support “100 per cent” by sponsoring stationery supply to students valued at more than $200 every year.
“We are very grateful to Mr Bakshi for his ongoing support.”
Mr Dutt said he was working in collaboration with several other groups in other New Zealand cities in this project.
He said if some action was not taken now to get things going on a bigger scale, the Hindi language in New Zealand could die out in time to come.
“I have national focus and we need to keep pushing for it.”
Mr Dutt said other vernacular langages such as Mandarin, Japanese and even Samoan were taught in New Zealand schools.
“So why not Hindi? Considering the close trade ties New Zealand has with India, it should be taught in NZ schools on a bigger scale and as part of the main curriculum.”
Mr Dutt welcomed support from any individuals or groups who wanted to support his trust in the project.
The Hindu Council of New Zealand said it was supportive of Mr Dutt’s efforts.
“But we would like to see it happen with a united national effort,” Council general secretary Dr Guna Magesan told the Indian Weekender.
Dr Magesan said he had had talks with Mr Dutt and they were “waiting for the right time” to give the project a concerted push.
Auckland’s three radio stations, who all broadcast in the Hindi language, have held back from commenting on the issue and what they thought of the standards of Hindi language used on air in New Zealand, and about their roles in promotion of the language.
Radio Tarana and Apna 990 did not respond to emails, while Radio Humm’s Gaurav Gupta said they did not want to “politicise” the issue, and therefore were not comfortable commenting on the topic.
Here, Mr Dutt talks to Indian Weekender about the project:
You have been pushing for Hindi in NZ schools for a while; what is it that drove you towards this initiative?
Hindi is a universal language. There are so many languages taught in New Zealand including Pasifika languages (curriculum being made and published). There are government and community initiatives for the current languages being taught here in schools even Asian languages such as Mandarin, Japanese, Urdu etc. There are about 100,000 Indians in New Zealand from Fiji, India, South Africa and other places.
Are our young people not being exposed to enough proper Hindi language in the community, on radio and in social gatherings?
No, it is a trend nowadays that in social gatherings more so over English medium is used. The radio stations have begun to use English as well.
Are our young people in danger of forgetting their mother tongue because of the western influence in New Zealand?
Yes, there is a great danger beyond any reasonable doubt and in four to five decades our Indian community could be like South African Indians.
Which community groups are supporting you in your efforts?
J.P.Maharaj-Brahiman Sabha of NZ, Manikan Pillay-TISI Sangam, Roopa, Waitakere Indian Association, Sunita Narayan - Wellington Hindi School, Harnam Singh Golian-Sikh Society, Shiva Charan Hindi School, Vishwa Shanti Hindi School, Blockhouse Bay Arya Samaj Hindi School, Hindi School running at Kaart Trust in East Tamaki. Pt Nitya Nand Sundar, Pt Sunil Sharda, Mahesh Bindra-Belmoral Mandir.
Who are your trustee members?
Satya Dutt, Jagdish Chand, Ragini Lata Narayan, Dhirendra Nath, Satya Wati Kumar, Dinesh Chand, Vijendra Prasad, Prem Singh, Indra Deo. Satyanand Swami, Shanti Singh, Jagdish Prasad Maharaj, Radha Reddy, Shiu Ram, Mahesh Bindra
What do you think of the standards of the Hindi language being used on our three 24-hour radio stations?
Mostly commercial based, entertainment, news and community messages.
Your thoughts for the future?
To see that Hindi is being taught in schools as a language and be available to anyone wishing to learn.
An Auckland group’s quest to have the Hindi language taught in New Zealand schools has taken one small step closer to fruition. The first Hindi class, comprising 10 students, was held at the Papatoetoe Intermediate School on Sunday May 8, and the organisers are excited that this could lead to a...
An Auckland group’s quest to have the Hindi language taught in New Zealand schools has taken one small step closer to fruition.
The first Hindi class, comprising 10 students, was held at the Papatoetoe Intermediate School on Sunday May 8, and the organisers are excited that this could lead to a mainstream teaching of the vernacular subject.
The project is being driven by the Hindi Language and Culture Trust, headed by Auckland school teacher Satya Dutt.
And Mr Dutt and the trust’s efforts have been further bolstered by timely support from National Party’s Papatoetoe MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.
Mr Dutt told the Indian Weekender that Mr Bakshi had lent his support “100 per cent” by sponsoring stationery supply to students valued at more than $200 every year.
“We are very grateful to Mr Bakshi for his ongoing support.”
Mr Dutt said he was working in collaboration with several other groups in other New Zealand cities in this project.
He said if some action was not taken now to get things going on a bigger scale, the Hindi language in New Zealand could die out in time to come.
“I have national focus and we need to keep pushing for it.”
Mr Dutt said other vernacular langages such as Mandarin, Japanese and even Samoan were taught in New Zealand schools.
“So why not Hindi? Considering the close trade ties New Zealand has with India, it should be taught in NZ schools on a bigger scale and as part of the main curriculum.”
Mr Dutt welcomed support from any individuals or groups who wanted to support his trust in the project.
The Hindu Council of New Zealand said it was supportive of Mr Dutt’s efforts.
“But we would like to see it happen with a united national effort,” Council general secretary Dr Guna Magesan told the Indian Weekender.
Dr Magesan said he had had talks with Mr Dutt and they were “waiting for the right time” to give the project a concerted push.
Auckland’s three radio stations, who all broadcast in the Hindi language, have held back from commenting on the issue and what they thought of the standards of Hindi language used on air in New Zealand, and about their roles in promotion of the language.
Radio Tarana and Apna 990 did not respond to emails, while Radio Humm’s Gaurav Gupta said they did not want to “politicise” the issue, and therefore were not comfortable commenting on the topic.
Here, Mr Dutt talks to Indian Weekender about the project:
You have been pushing for Hindi in NZ schools for a while; what is it that drove you towards this initiative?
Hindi is a universal language. There are so many languages taught in New Zealand including Pasifika languages (curriculum being made and published). There are government and community initiatives for the current languages being taught here in schools even Asian languages such as Mandarin, Japanese, Urdu etc. There are about 100,000 Indians in New Zealand from Fiji, India, South Africa and other places.
Are our young people not being exposed to enough proper Hindi language in the community, on radio and in social gatherings?
No, it is a trend nowadays that in social gatherings more so over English medium is used. The radio stations have begun to use English as well.
Are our young people in danger of forgetting their mother tongue because of the western influence in New Zealand?
Yes, there is a great danger beyond any reasonable doubt and in four to five decades our Indian community could be like South African Indians.
Which community groups are supporting you in your efforts?
J.P.Maharaj-Brahiman Sabha of NZ, Manikan Pillay-TISI Sangam, Roopa, Waitakere Indian Association, Sunita Narayan - Wellington Hindi School, Harnam Singh Golian-Sikh Society, Shiva Charan Hindi School, Vishwa Shanti Hindi School, Blockhouse Bay Arya Samaj Hindi School, Hindi School running at Kaart Trust in East Tamaki. Pt Nitya Nand Sundar, Pt Sunil Sharda, Mahesh Bindra-Belmoral Mandir.
Who are your trustee members?
Satya Dutt, Jagdish Chand, Ragini Lata Narayan, Dhirendra Nath, Satya Wati Kumar, Dinesh Chand, Vijendra Prasad, Prem Singh, Indra Deo. Satyanand Swami, Shanti Singh, Jagdish Prasad Maharaj, Radha Reddy, Shiu Ram, Mahesh Bindra
What do you think of the standards of the Hindi language being used on our three 24-hour radio stations?
Mostly commercial based, entertainment, news and community messages.
Your thoughts for the future?
To see that Hindi is being taught in schools as a language and be available to anyone wishing to learn.
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