Push for Hindi week continues
Indians form a significant part of New Zealand.
They are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country, and so it seems only natural for the community to urge the New Zealand government to dedicate one week in a year as Hindi Language Week.
Last week, Indian Weekender reported that Sunny Kaushal, in his speech during the 70th Indian Independence Day celebration in Auckland, said that the government should consider the week of August 15 (Indian Independence Day) every year as Hindi Language Week. Kaushal is one of the senior activists and an active member in Kiwi-Indian community. He was the Labour Party Candidate in General Election 2011 and 2014.
Since 2011, Hindi Language Culture Trust of NZ has been celebrating Hindi Language Week around September 14 (Hindi Divas).
Every year, they approach schools nationwide for three programmes conducted during the week that includes Hindi speech competition and cultural evenings.
Their aim is to include Hindi curriculum through school-based programmes. It started off as a one-day celebration in 2011 but since 2012, it has been celebrated for a week.
Trust president and chief executive Satya Dutt criticised Kaushal’s proposal to celebrate Hindi Language Week in August.
“We do not agree with him, as we have been celebrating National Week in the same week as September 14, which is declared as World Hindi Day,” Dutt said.
“We have already created a profile in accordance to universal declaration and do no support Hindi Language Week to be celebrated around India’s Independence Day.”
The aim of the week-long celebration, according to Dutt, is to promote teaching and learning Hindi and to get the government to recognise and support the language.
The trust has already reached out to schools for this year’s celebrations (September 12–16) and around 15 to 20 students have already signed up for the different competitions.
Dutt added that the Office of Ethnic Communities is recognising their efforts.
Kaushal told the Indian Weekender he would be happy to celebrate the day in any month.
“But the week falling during Hindi Day is already reserved by Chinese community as the Chinese Language Week in New Zealand (September 12–18).
“We would achieve nothing by organising Hindi Language Week during the same week. The bigger picture is to get recognition to the language in New Zealand, which needs to be done differently and with harmony with other communities.”
Since August is a patriotic month for Indians, Kaushal feels that it would be ideal to observe the week in the same month.
While the final date might continue to be a debate, both Dutt and Kaushal agree that the Department of Ethnic Affairs should be involved.
“The Ministry of Ethnic Affairs is recognising our efforts,” Dutt said.
“We are working hard to have our language supported by the ministry as it does for the other 12 languages; Chinese, Japanese, Tongan French, Niuean, Tokelauan, Cook Island Maori, Spanish, Maori, German, Samoan, Korean are fully supported by the government in terms of providing resources and teacher development and so why not our Hindi?”
Indians form a significant part of New Zealand.
They are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country, and so it seems only natural for the community to urge the New Zealand government to dedicate one week in a year as Hindi Language Week.
Last week, Indian Weekender reported that Sunny Kaushal,...
Indians form a significant part of New Zealand.
They are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country, and so it seems only natural for the community to urge the New Zealand government to dedicate one week in a year as Hindi Language Week.
Last week, Indian Weekender reported that Sunny Kaushal, in his speech during the 70th Indian Independence Day celebration in Auckland, said that the government should consider the week of August 15 (Indian Independence Day) every year as Hindi Language Week. Kaushal is one of the senior activists and an active member in Kiwi-Indian community. He was the Labour Party Candidate in General Election 2011 and 2014.
Since 2011, Hindi Language Culture Trust of NZ has been celebrating Hindi Language Week around September 14 (Hindi Divas).
Every year, they approach schools nationwide for three programmes conducted during the week that includes Hindi speech competition and cultural evenings.
Their aim is to include Hindi curriculum through school-based programmes. It started off as a one-day celebration in 2011 but since 2012, it has been celebrated for a week.
Trust president and chief executive Satya Dutt criticised Kaushal’s proposal to celebrate Hindi Language Week in August.
“We do not agree with him, as we have been celebrating National Week in the same week as September 14, which is declared as World Hindi Day,” Dutt said.
“We have already created a profile in accordance to universal declaration and do no support Hindi Language Week to be celebrated around India’s Independence Day.”
The aim of the week-long celebration, according to Dutt, is to promote teaching and learning Hindi and to get the government to recognise and support the language.
The trust has already reached out to schools for this year’s celebrations (September 12–16) and around 15 to 20 students have already signed up for the different competitions.
Dutt added that the Office of Ethnic Communities is recognising their efforts.
Kaushal told the Indian Weekender he would be happy to celebrate the day in any month.
“But the week falling during Hindi Day is already reserved by Chinese community as the Chinese Language Week in New Zealand (September 12–18).
“We would achieve nothing by organising Hindi Language Week during the same week. The bigger picture is to get recognition to the language in New Zealand, which needs to be done differently and with harmony with other communities.”
Since August is a patriotic month for Indians, Kaushal feels that it would be ideal to observe the week in the same month.
While the final date might continue to be a debate, both Dutt and Kaushal agree that the Department of Ethnic Affairs should be involved.
“The Ministry of Ethnic Affairs is recognising our efforts,” Dutt said.
“We are working hard to have our language supported by the ministry as it does for the other 12 languages; Chinese, Japanese, Tongan French, Niuean, Tokelauan, Cook Island Maori, Spanish, Maori, German, Samoan, Korean are fully supported by the government in terms of providing resources and teacher development and so why not our Hindi?”
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