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‘Knowledge of spoken Hindi essential’

— Photo: By Special Arrangement

Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi presenting a certificate to one of the contest winners during the Hindi Fortnight celebration at Pondicherry University on Friday. Vice-Chancellor J.A.K. Tareen (second from left) and Reader in Sanskrit Department K.E. Dharaneedharan (third from left) are in the picture.

PUDUCHERRY: Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi on Friday stressed the need for learning Hindi. “If people in countries like Malaysia, where Tamil is a national language, can speak in Hindi then why can’t people in our country do so,” he asked.

Mr. Mukut Mithi was addressing students and staff of Pondicherry University at the valedictory function of the Hindi Fortnight celebrations at the university.

He said that in his home state of Arunachal Pradesh there were 27 tribes that spoke 27 languages but they had all chosen Hindi as a common language.

Regional languages, no doubt had their charm, beauty and rich heritage, but such a vast and diverse country needed a National language and Hindi was doing its role quite well, he added.

In an effort to encourage more students to learn Hindi, Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor J.A.K. Tareen, in his address, said that they would soon start a certificate course in spoken Hindi for students of all disciplines.

“It will be a language that they can learn in their spare time. We will also open a Hindi language laboratory,” Mr. Tareen added.

Leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi Parliamentary party M. Ramadas said a centre of Pondicherry University would be inaugurated with complete infrastructure on October 10 in Karaikal.

“One has to learn as many languages as possible without any language chauvinism since one has to communicate in this globalised scenario,” he said.

K.E. Dharaneedharan, Reader, Sanskrit Department, said that over 200 students and staff participated in the two-week celebration.

Mr. Mithi, who had earlier dedicated a building for students services, gave away certificates to winners of various competitions organised in connection with the Hindi Fortnight celebrations.

The building that was dedicated would house a placement cell, the office of the chief warden of hostels, the office of the dean of students welfare, the office of the foreign students’ counsellor, and the office of the dean of the college development council.

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