Consul General Riva Ganguly Das bats for Hindi

Mar 18, 2016 - 1:04 pm EDT @theindpanorama Indian Americans, United States 0

Newly appointed India's Consul General Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das said the diplomats were now learning to think in Hindi

NEW YORK CITY (TIP): “Think in Hindi before you prepare your document in Hindi”, India‘s newly appointed Consul General Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das would like her staff to think in Hindi in order to present better documents in the official language of India. The Consul General was speaking on the occasion of kick-off of the Third International Hindi Conference 2016 at an event held at the Consulate Ball Room on March 14.

“We are doing a lot of work in Hindi. If we think in Hindi we can produce more accurate documentation”, she explained pointing out her support to the cause of Hindi. Emphasizing the commitment of Government of India for promoting Hindi, the consul general said that more opportunities for Hindi learning should be created. She elaborated upon a diverse Hindi program conducted by Indian Council for Cultural Relations, a Ministry of External Affairs initiative that supports Hindi scholars in various countries around the world.

The conference is scheduled to be held from April 29 to May 1 at the Consulate Ball Room.

India's Consul General Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das (third from left) officially launched the Third Intenational Hindi Conference 2016. Also seen with her are (from left) Purnima Desai, Ashok Ojha and Upendra Chivukula (second from right) — India’s Consul General Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das (third from left) officially launched the Third Intenational Hindi Conference 2016. Also seen with her are (from left) Purnima Desai, Ashok Ojha and Upendra Chivukula (second from right)

Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India,sent a message for the success of the conference. Ashok Ojha, coordinator of the conference, explainedthat the theme of the conference was, “Hindi Language: A Democratic Voice of Complex Issues in Education, Literature, Arts and Media”. According to Ojha Sweden based Hindi scholarHeinz Werner Wesslerhas agreed to deliver his key-note address at the inaugural event on April 29.

Ojha requested conference participants to register online through the link: http://www.hindiconferenceamericas.com/re gister/ He said that a Kavi Sammelan is scheduled on April 30, the second day of the conference. A Humorous Hindi Play, ‘UdanKhatola’, and a story session, ‘Kahani Manch’, will also be held during the conference.

Dance exponent Rimly Roy presenting a performance based on Ravindra Sangeet

A number of speakers including Dr. Susham Bedi of Columbia and CUNY, Dr. Seema Khurana of Yale, and Dr. Rakesh Ranjan of Columbia, spoke at the kick off event. According to Khurana she will prevail upon Yale to host the conference in 2018. Others who spoke in favor of Hindi included Prof. Indrajit Saluja, Mrs. Purnmia Desai, head of Shikshayatan cultural organization, Col Veerendra Tavathia and media professional Sunil Hali.

A cultural presentation by danseuse Rimli Roy and a poem recitation was performed at the function.