Hindi hoists its Banner on the Global Stage: Prof. Nilanti

• International Conference Organized on “Hindi on the Global Stage: Diverse Dimensions”

JAMMU: Under the patronage and guidance of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Central University of Jammu, a one-day international conference on the theme “Hindi on the Global Stage: Diverse Dimensions” was organized jointly by the Department of Hindi and Other Indian Languages and the Jammu & Kashmir Rashtrabhasha Samiti.

During the inaugural session, the Registrar Prof. Yashwant Singh, Chief Guest Prof. R. K. D. Nilanti Rajapakshe (Head, Department of Language and Cultural Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka), Dean of the Faculty of Languages Prof. Vandana Sharma, and General Secretary of the Jammu & Kashmir Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti Dr. Bharat Bhushan Sharma were present on the dais.

The session began with the national song, followed by a Saraswati Vandana presented by the department’s research scholars. Head of the Department, Prof. Bharat Bhushan, introduced the guests. All dignitaries were honored with coconuts and mementos.

In her address, Chief Guest Prof. Nilanti Rajapakshe stated that history bears witness to the deep connections between India and Sri Lanka, citing the era of Emperor Ashoka. She noted that the promotion of Hindi in Sri Lanka began around 1880, with drama playing a significant role in its spread. Staging plays such as Ramayana, Indraprastha, and Harishchandra helped generate interest in Hindi while also inspiring devotion.

She also mentioned that Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore visited Sri Lanka several times, reflecting the people’s deep interest in literature, music, and the arts. She emphasized that a nation’s identity lies in its culture, and the cultures of India and Sri Lanka are closely connected.

Prof. Rajapakshe further highlighted that Hindi is widely spoken across the world today and is taught in 153 countries. Many universities globally offer Hindi studies, including major universities in Sri Lanka. She added that Hindi has now become a language of employment, which has significantly increased its global demand.

Registrar Prof. Yashwant Singh stressed the growing importance of Hindi, stating that it is flourishing worldwide and has become not only the language of Indians but also of people in many other countries. He noted the increasing demand for Hindi in the United States and described the conference as highly relevant.

Dean Prof. Vandana Sharma spoke about the greatness of Hindi, emphasizing that as Indians, it is essential for everyone to learn the language. Dr. Bharat Bhushan Sharma expressed happiness that approximately 120 universities worldwide have established centers for Hindi studies, with around 20 such centers in the United States alone. He also noted the presence of Hindi training centers in countries like Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, and Trinidad due to significant populations of Indian origin.

The inaugural session was conducted by Assistant Professor Dr. Vandana Sharma. The second session, chaired by D. M. S. Madhubhashini Kulsinghe (Sugandhi) from Sri Lanka, featured presentations on various topics related to global Hindi, including artificial intelligence. Co-convener Dr. Shashikant Mishra spoke on key thematic points, and the session was conducted by research scholar Sonal Tiwari.

The third session was held online and chaired by Prof. Amiya Kumar Sahu, Head of the Hindi Department at the National Defence Academy, Pune. Several research papers were presented during this session as well. The conference concluded with the national anthem and a vote of thanks.