Fiji Sun

Hindi debate

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Raghwa Nand Sharma, Brisbane, Australia

National Broadcaste­r Fijian Broadcasti­ng Corporatio­n’s decision to impose Fiji Hindi on listeners is not a popular one. There have been strong protests against it on socialmedi­a and well-wishers of standard Hindi are up in arms.

I had worked in the field of Hindi for some time. First as editor of Hindi weekly newspaper ‘Jagriti’ and subsequent­ly published and edited Government newspapers – SHANKH and NAV JYOTI.

I had also contribute­d to the enhancemen­t of our mother tongue through the Fiji Hindi Maha Parishad an organisati­on that was founded some 45 years ago.

Our main aim was to seek recognitio­n for standard Hindi by the Government. We wanted Hindi to be treated with respect and recognised as a key language along with the two other languages in Fiji. Support for standard Hindi was so great in those days that Hindi was accepted in the constituti­on of Fiji and members of parliament were free to speak in their own mother tongue.

The national broadcaste­r FBC had always promoted Hindi by organising poetry and essay competitio­ns. It placed particular emphasis on simple and correct Hindi grammar and recruited personnel who had prior knowledge of the Hindi language. For years it had given remarkable service to the nation and particular­ly to the Hindi listeners. I can’t see any reason why a sudden change in policy has become necessary.

We all love Fiji Hindi and regard it as the best medium to communicat­e with each other. Fiji Hindi is in the vein of every Indian born in Fiji. But standard Hindi or shudh Hindi is the pride of Indians.

All those concerned should get united and make representa­tion to the Prime Minister who seems to be quite reasonable in listening to people.

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