Hindi Day celebrations at IIMB were marked by an afternoon of poetry, music and sharing of thoughts of how language can bring people together. Led by the Hindi Cell of IIMB, the Director, the Dean Administration and the CHRO, the programme highlighted the beauty and power of effective communication, where language is but a means to an end.
The inaugural lamp was lit by IIMB Director, Prof. G. Raghuram, Dean Administration Prof. MS Narasimhan, Chief Human Resources Officer Shivakumar Venkateswaran, Chief Guest Surinder Kohli, Hindi Officer Neetha John and guest Anita Agarwal. The invocation was rendered by IIMB staff Shubadha Dambal and Deepthi R.
In his welcome address, Shivakumar Venkateswaran shared the significance of observing ‘Hindi Divas’. “IIMB has worked towards implementing the Official Language and will continue to do so. I request you to achieve the goals given in the annual program issued by the Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs, by using simple and easy Hindi in the official functioning of the institute,” he said.
In keeping with tradition, Prof. MS Narasimhan honored the chief guest, Surinder Kohli, with an angavastram.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. G Raghuram, said: “Hindi Day is celebrated every year on 14th September as on this day, in 1949, the Indian Constituent Assembly accepted Hindi as the Official Language of our country along with English. Hindi is now among the widely spoken languages in the world. The language gained popularity through Hindi movies and music.” Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he added: “जनता की बात जनता की भाषा में होनी चाहिए” ।
The Hindi Officer, Neetha John, read out the Home Minister’s message.
Lacing his address with gentle wit, Surinder Kohli, who spoke on ‘Hindi: Kal, Aaj aur Kal’, traced his own journey, post Partition, from Lahore to a refugee camp in the Punjab to Rangoon where his father worked in a surgical goods factory, to, finally, the mecca of Hindi movies – Bombay, and now Bengaluru. “My Hindi, in Rangoon, was far from the ‘shudh’ variety that we read in our textbooks! I believe language needs to have space for change, evolution and growth,” he remarked, drawing the audience’s attention to the fact that the OED comprises a large percentage of Hindustani words. “The key lies in keeping language simple and accessible,” he added.
In a delightful session, where he shared lyrics that he penned, for popular Hindi film songs including ‘Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din’, from Mera Naam Joker, he quipped, “That’s when I realized it’s easier to be original rather than write to fit the mood of the maestros!”
The afternoon closed on a winning note with a Hindi film song contest. The winners are Chitra Gopal (first prize), Sindhu BR (second prize), Raja R (third prize), and Shubhada Dambal and Kamalamba PV (motivational prizes).
While Chitra and Kamalamba are from the ERP section, Sindhu is from the Director’s office, Raja is from the CAO’s office, and Shubhada is from the Estates office.
The programme was emceed by Sunita Mishra and the vote of thanks was proposed by Awadesh Kumar Tripathi of the Hindi Cell of IIMB.
Professor G. Raghuram, Director, IIMB, lights the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate ‘Hindi Divas’ activities at IIMB on September 14, 2018.
Shivakumar Venkateswaran, Chief Human Resources Officer, IIMB, delivers the welcome address.
Shivakumar Venkateswaran, Chief Human Resources Officer, IIMB, delivers the welcome address.
Poet and author Surinder Kohli speaks on the need to keep a language simple and accessible at the ‘Hindi Divas’ celebrations at IIMB.
Hindi Officer Neetha John reads out a message from Rajnath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs.
Guests and a section of the staff of IIMB.
