NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): The Consulate General of India in New York will host the Fifth International Hindi Conference in September 2018.This was announced by Consul General Sandeep Chakraborty during a recent meeting he held with a delegation of Hindi Sangam Foundation, a New Jersey based educational and cultural organization. The proposed Hindi Conference is part of a series of initiatives undertaken by the Consulate for promotion of Hindi language in the coming year.

Consul General also accepted the honorary title of “Patron” of the foundation, which has so far organized four International Hindi Conferences in USA and India.

He announced a number of initiatives aimed at promoting Hindi teaching at the consulate premises. He said that the Consulate will celebrate Hindi Day on Saturday, January 13, 2018. The event will be attended by well-known language experts Janis Jensen of Kean University and Jennifer Eddy of Queens College, as the main speakers. “Such events are very useful for promoting Hindi in various sections of the society. We want Indian-American community to be aware of academic work done by experts of non-Indian origin”, said Ojha, “Very few people know that Professor Jensen is directing a Master’s program in Hindi Pedagogy at Kean University for future teachers”, he added.

“The purpose of Hindi Diwas event and future conference is to establish a working relation among community and cultural organizations in various parts of USA. We want them to share their accomplishments with each other so all of them could be benefited”, said the Consul General. He also said that a scholar of Hindi and Sanskrit, who is expected to take charge of his office soon at the consulate, will conduct Hindi classes at the consulate soon.

In the past years Consulate General of India hosted a number of Hindi conferences, notably the third International Hindi Conference held in May 2016, which was attended by dozens of language experts associated with various US universities including Columbia, NYU, UCLA and UT Austin. In 2014 and 2015 the consulate collaborated with Hindi Sangam Foundation and the New York University and Rutgers University, NJ to organize the first and second International Hindi Conferences at the respective university campuses.

“The outcome of previous three conferences was outstanding”, said Ashok Ojha, president of Hindi Sangam foundation who has been coordinator of the Hindi conferences. “The fourth International Hindi Conference was held in January 2017 at GITAM University, Vishakhapatnam, AP, which was a grand success. We were able to build a network of Hindi professionals in non-Hindi speaking states of India and abroad”, he added.

Ojha said that his organization was engaged in promoting Hindi as a symbol of identity for all people of Indian origin. He urged the Consul General to help implement the resolutions adopted by previous conferences held in NY and NJ for establishment of a Hindi Center in New York Metro area.

Professor Indrajit Saluja, editor, The Indian Panorama, supported the idea of establishing a network of Hindi professionals and members of other cultural organizations in the USA.

The Hindi Sangam Foundation delegation led by its president Ashok Ojha met with Consul General Chakraborty. Other participants included Professor Gabriela Nik Ilieva, New York University professor of Hindi who was recently honored by the President of India as a promoter of Hindi language outside of India, Professor Indrajit Saluja, Editor, The Indian Panorama, Col. Virendra Tavathia, a New Jersey community leader and executive members of the foundation.

Professor Ilieva emphasized the need for cooperation and collaboration among educational institutions in USA and India. She urged educational leaders associated with universities in India and USA to develop a training system for Hindi teachers in the Indian Diaspora. She said that teaching of Hindi in 21st century was as important as teaching any other subject about South Asia. “Hindi teaching relates directly with India where teachers should frequently upgrade their teaching skills by attending workshops and conferences for Hindi teaching”, she said.

(Based on input provided by Ashok Ojha)