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Past Conferences
Hindi is the second largest spoken language in the world after Chinese. Geographically, people who speak Hindi are scattered all over the world. The past decade has seen two major Hindi Conferences take place globally.
So far 7 World Hindi Conferences have been held - at Nagpur (India), Mauritius, New Delhi, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, and London respectively. The VII World Hindi conference took place in Paramaribo (Surinam) on 6 June 2005. Nearly 400 delegates from 20 countries participated in the conference, the largest being a contingent of 200 from India.In a message to the conference, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said the conference would enrich both Hindi and Surinam. He complimented the people of Surinam, particularly those of Indian origin, for their efforts to develop Hindi. Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee both expressed the hope that the conference would give a boost to application of Hindi in various areas and its popularity across the world. Terming Hindi as a “living embodiment” of cultural unity in the country, Mr Vajpayee asked scholars to work with full dedication to get the language its place of pride at the international level.
He said Hindi served as link among people of divergent religions and languages in the democratic and secular country and had the full capacity of establishing emotional bonds among millions of people.
The VI World Hindi Conference, aptly titled 'Hindi Evam Bhaavi Peerhi' (Hindi and the Future Generations) Conference was held on the 30th of August, 1999 in New Delhi. One of the main aims of the conference was to ensure that the language flowed well into the 21st century. A plethora of distinguished guests and senior dignitaries from countries, including Mauritius, Nepal, Trinidad & Tobago, attended the ceremony along with eminent personalities, including Hindi authors, writers and poets from across the globe. Tomio Mizokami of Osaka University, Japan, directed 'Kayakalp', a Hindi play, which was performed by some of his Japanese students. A galaxy of Hindi poets participated in a unique 'Virat Kavi Sammelan'.
The purpose of these international Hindi conferences is to strengthen linkages with people of Indian origin abroad, especially those Hindi speaking, draw the Indian Diaspora into cultural events that they can relate to, and as a cultural gesture to communities of Indian origin concentrated in specific regions of the world. The Government of India has continued its endeavours to popularise Hindi, both in India and abroad. Special efforts are being made for teaching Hindi in foreign countries. A number of Hindi teaching centers are being run by our mission.