Biman: Relationship based on shared values of freedom
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad says the World Hindi Conference that will be held from February 15 to 17, will refocus everyone’s mind towards the importance of teaching vernacular languages in the country.
While officiating at the World Hindi Day celebration at Suva Civic Centre on Tuesday, Prof Prasad said the history of Fiji’s relationship with India was based on shared values of freedom, democracy, culture, religion and language.
“This is a very fitting occasion while we are celebrating the World Hindi Day (Vishwa Hindi Diwas), we are also launching a historical 12th World Hindi Conference in Fiji,” Prof Prasad said.
“This conference itself should refocus our minds, our energy, our effort in the importance of teaching our vernacular languages, such as Hindi and iTaukei in this country.”
He said Hindi today was a truly global language.
“I bring greetings from the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the government of Fiji to all of you and wish you all the best, not only for the Vishwa Hindi Diwas (World Hindi Day) but also the launching of the 12th World Hindi Conference in Fiji and that itself is very historical.
“Hindi is the third most spoken languages in the world after English and Mandarin.
“Whether you look at Hindi from a religious, cultural, traditional linguistic point of view or whether you look at Hindi from an economic perspective, from employment perspective, it all points to one important destination and that is the importance of Hindi around the world today.
“I know there are global companies who want to invest in India, who want to go to India.
“India today is moving fast towards a truly global power and it attracts people, investors and other countries because that is the global geopolitics, geo-economics that India brings to the world today.
“The history of our relationship with India is a long one, historical one, traditional one based on shared values of freedom, democracy, culture, religion and language.”
Indian High Commissioner to Fiji P.S Kaithigeyan said the occasion of the World Hindi Conference would be a kind of tribute to the very special linkage that people of Fiji and India had.
“Our two nations have endeavoured together to build a modern multifaceted relationship in compassion every aspect of our national building,” he said.
“Of course, all this is built on a very special people to people ties that we have with this beautiful country.
“We are extremely happy to see that Hindi in Fiji occupies a very privileged and a very special place in the hearts and minds of people not just the Fiji Indian community which speaks it well, but also amongst the wider section of the Fijian community.”