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Ten eminent teachers of Hindi honoured by the Indian Embassy in the Netherlands as part of grand celebrations to mark World Hindi Day

Posted on: February 14, 2018 | Back | Print

Embassy of India
The Hague

Press Release

January 15, 2018

 

Ten eminent teachers of Hindi honoured by the Indian Embassy in the Netherlands as part of grand celebrations to mark World Hindi Day

World Hindi Day was marked in the Netherlands with grand four day celebrations organised by the Embassy of India from January 10, 2018 to January 13, 2018.

Netherlands has the largest population of Overseas Indians in mainland Europe, majority of whose ancestors were taken as indentured labour from India to Suriname 145 years back. Out of a total estimated population of around 2, 35, 000 persons of Indian origin, 2 lakh belong to the Suriname Hindustani community.

The highlight of this year’s celebrations was the honouring of ten teachers who have been teaching Hindi for 30 to 50 years in the Netherlands as well as Suriname. Mr Ramavtar Singh, Mr M K Mahabier, Swami Devpriyavani, Mrs RukminDurgaramTiwarie, Mr Amit Avtar, Mr R Tetar, Mrs Chandra Data Din, Mr. R O Dehal, Mr NidhaRowni and Mr S Sardjoe are Dutch citizens of Indian origin who have taught Hindi to several thousand students.
They were presented each a shawl, gift, certificate and a bouquet of flowers by the Indian Ambassador VenuRajamony at a special valedictory function held on January 13 in The Hague. 

The world Hindi day celebrations started with day long programming on two leading Dutch radio channels of specially curated programs of poetry, songs, riddles, stories, skits and interesting facts about Hindi. 

Poetry recitation and handwriting competitions were organised in 6 schools involving around 600 students. 

At the valedictory function of January 13, 2018, prizes and certificates were given to around 50 students of Hindi who were winners in the various competitions. This was followed by a cultural programs on the theme of Navarasa with dance performances, a skit,  songs and poetry recitation by students, teachers and lovers of the Hindi language.  

The valedictory function held at the ICCR Gandhi Centre in The Hague was attended by over 150 people. 

Speaking  on the occasion, Ambassador VenuRajamony said the program of free Hindi classes at the Indian Cultural  Centre would be expanded and the Embassy will explore feasibility of conducting classes in temples and club houses. He said the Embassy is publishing in collaboration with local organisations a Hindi textbook to standardise the teaching of Hindi in the Netherlands. It further intends to design a digital curriculum for online Hindi classes that would begin soon.  

 World Hindi Day celebrations are organised in countries across the world on January 10 every year since 2006. The day marks the anniversary of the first "World Hindi Conference" held in 1975. The celebrations organised this year were the largest ever to be held in the Netherlands.

Ipsita Uppal
Media Officer