The Embassy celebrated the World Hindi Day at the Mahatma Gandhi School in Almaty on 29th January, 2016 in collaboration with the Centre for Indian Classical Dances, Almaty. Ambassador Shri Harsh K. Jain welcomed and addressed the guests. He stated that Hindi is the mother tongue of over 400 million people in India and is spoken and understood in many other countries besides India. He observed that Hindi is being regularly taught at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Center for Indian Classical Dances in Almaty. He expressed happiness that several students from Kazakhstan have visited India to study Hindi at Central Hindi Institute. He informed that the Embassy is supporting the publication of the first Hindi-Kazakh-Hindi dictionary by Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He stated that the presence of several common words in Hindi and Kazakh languages is an evidence of close historical and cultural relations between India and Kazakhstan. He added that two such words “Tej Kadam” became the title of the Joint Statement issued during the visit of Prime Minister of India to Kazakhstan in July, 2015.
Ambassdor recalled that a World Hindi Secretariat has been established in Mauritius in 2008 to promote Hindi as an international language. He also informed about the holding of the 10th World Hindi Conference at Bhopal in September, 2015 with participation of representatives of 39 countries, besides India.
Mr. Erulan Zhienbayev, Principal of the Mahatma Gandhi School, also addressed the guests. He recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had placed great emphasis on promotion of Hindi language and it was therefore befitting to celebrate the World Hindi Day in Kazakhstan at Mahatma Gandhi School.
The Centre for Indian Classical Dances, Almaty led by its Director Ms. Akmaral Kainazarova presented a cultural programme including Hindi songs & poem recitals and Indian classical and bollywood dances. A short presentation on the History of Hindi language was also made. A former student of Central Hindi Institute shared her experience in India. Two members of Indian community also recited Hindi poems. About 70 people including staff and students of Mahatma Gandhi School and the Centre for Indian Classical Dances, faculty members and students of Department of Indology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, scholars of Institute of Oriental Studies, members of Indian community and Indian Chamber of Commerce & Culture attended the celebration.
