Rotorua Hindi School will be formally launched in Rotorua at 11.00 am on Saturday, 2 October 2021,Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi (Gandhi Jayanti). Mahatma Gandhi called Hindi the language of the masses and had said “Using Hindi in national practice is necessary for the progress of the country“.
On 14 September 2021, the day of Hindi Diwas (Hindi Language celebrations), Hindu Council of New Zealand discussed starting Hindi classes in Rotorua for the benefit of Indian children and others who are interested in learning the language. Learning a language is a great way to get introduced to a new culture, tradition and country. It is a means to enable better social cohesion. For students of Indian origin, it will also provide a means to stay connected with their language.
Hindi Diwas is celebrated on September 14 every year with an aim to raise awareness about the language. In 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India hadrecognised and adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the country. This year, Hindi Diwas Day happened in the same week as the Māori Language Week (13 to 19 September 2021).
At first, spoken Hindi classes will be conducted for the Rotorua public by volunteer teachers and over time, written script and proper syllabus will be introduced as a formal Hindi School. We are looking for Hindi teachers who are passionate in teaching Hindi to young children. If interested, please send your CVs to [email protected] with a copy to [email protected]
“We have spoken to Indian High Commission and Wellington Hindi School organisers regarding Rotorua Hindi School. They are very happy to support with teaching materials and share their experience,” said Prof Guna Magesan, General Secretary of Hindu Council of New Zealand.
The Rotorua Hindi School will run weekly, initially on Saturdays,operating from PlaytopiaEducare at 2 Ti Street in Rotorua.
PlaytopiaEducare is well known in Rotorua, among the parents with young children,as it is the largest Out of School Care and Recreation(OSCAR) provider in Rotorua and offers before-school, after-school care and holiday programmes for children aged 5-13 years, the same age group as for Hindi language classes. Its aim is to provide a service known for holistic development of children (intellectual, physical, emotional, cognitive and social development). It also aims at community development through childcare education and activities. Following Hindi classes, several community related activities such as yoga, meditation/mindfulness, and dance fitness have also been planned.
For more information, please contact:
Prof Guna Magesan, +64 21 034 5621
General Secretary, Hindu Council of New Zealand
