Ministry of External Affairs and a number of Indian Missions abroad celebrated World Hindi Day on 10th January, 2006 for the first time. Hindi competitions were organized on this occasion. On the occasion of World Hindi Day on 10th January, 2007 Ministry of External Affairs organized a Hindi Essay competition for foreign students, who are studying Hindi in India. The winners were given prizes by the Chief Guest by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Anand Sharma at a grand function held on 10th January,2007. A number of Indian Missions abroad also celebrated World Hindi Day in January, 2007 on a large scale and organized various Hindi competitions and cultural programmes. It has been decided that World Hindi Day will be celebrated annually.
The Embassy of India, Moscow celebrated “Vishwa Hindi Divas” (World Hindi Day) with much enthusiasm on January 23, 2013, at the D P Dhar Hall of the Embassy. This was done as part of efforts by the Embassy to further promote interest in the Hindi language in Russia. The Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) of the Embassy organized the function, which began with the lighting of the lamp by HE Mr. Ajai Malhotra, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation, Russian scholars Dr. Sergei Serebrianiy of Russian State University for the Humanities and Dr. Guzel Sterlkova of Moscow State University, as well as Ms. Madhumita Hazarika Bhagat, Director, JNCC, Moscow.
In his address, Ambassador Malhotra acknowledged the support of the Russian teachers, scholars and professors in the promotion of Hindi in Russia. Appreciating the activities carried out by JNCC for promotion of Hindi, he drew attention to the scholarship opportunities available for Russian students to study Hindi in India. Ambassador Malhotra also read out a special message of greetings from the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on the occasion of “Vishwa Hindi Divas”.
Ambassador Malhotra warmly congratulated Dr. Sergei Serebriany for the “Vishwa Hindi Samman” award that was conferred on him as a distinguished Hindi scholar at the 9th World Hindi Conference held in September 2012 at Johannesburg, South Africa.
Several Russian students of JNCC then recited poems and songs in Hindi and also presented the play “Hindi Seekho”. Master Vikrant Kharab, a student of the Embassy of India School, recited the poem “Aaram Karo”. The School Principal, Mrs. Deepika Karnani, also recited a poem in Hindi at the function, as did Mr. B.S. Kajla working with JNCC, Moscow. Ms. Maria Porosova, a PhD student of Hindi at Moscow State University, informed about her research project on Hindi. Prizes and mementos to all participants were distributed by Ambassador Malhotra. The Programme was conducted by JNCC Hindi Teacher, Dr. Gulab Singh, and a vote of thanks given by Mr. Hari Shankar, Hindi Teacher of the Embassy of India School, Moscow. It was followed by a Reception.
