FIRST Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar has expressed optimism that Hindi, which is spoken as a first language by more than 425 million people across the globe and as a second language by another 120 million people, will be taught and studied within the school system in Guyana. “It is my hope that in celebrating World Hindi Day that greater attention will be paid to encouraging more persons in Guyana to undertake studies in Hindi. I am particularly hopeful that it can be ranked amongst the languages that are studied within our schools,” the Guyanese First Lady said on the occasion of World Hindi Day 2013, which was observed on Thursday.
“It is a subject that will intrigue and excite students and adults alike,” Mrs Ramotar stated.
Following is the text of remarks made by the First Lady Mrs Deolatchmee Ramotar on the occasion of World Hindi Day 2013:

I extend warmest greetings to all those who are observing World Hindi Day 2013.
The observance of this auspicious day allows for highlighting one of the world’s major languages. It is estimated that today, Hindi is spoken as a first language by more than 425 million people and as a second language by another 120 million.
Hindi is the official mother tongue of India from which many of our ancestors originated. Since Guyana has historical and cultural ties to India, Hindi forms part of our cultural heritage. Hindi was the mother tongue of most of the indentured labourers who came to work on our sugar plantations in the nineteenth and early twentieth century.  The immigrants who came as indentured labourers bequeathed to us the legacy of not only their dress, dance, music and religious beliefs, but also their language that made these cultural elements meaningful.
No culture can ever be fully uprooted from its language. If persons of East Indian ancestry are to preserve their rich cultural heritage, and if they are to fully understand and appreciate the intricacies of Indian culture, then the continued study of Hindi should be encouraged particularly amongst the younger generation.
The study of Hindi is also important for the study of Hinduism. Many of the old and sacred scriptures of Hinduism have been transcribed in Hindi and reading these texts in Hindi would enhance the understanding of their literary and philosophical underpinnings. Knowledge of Hindi also is useful in exploring the subtleties of Indian philosophy, poetry and prose
The benefits of Hindi are not just confined to religion and literature. In today’s increasingly integrated world, Hindi should be seen as an important foreign language. Globalization is allowing for greater multi-cultural interactions, bringing people of different backgrounds and languages together in a common space. Navigating this common space often requires being able to communicate across cultural barriers and thus makes competence in more than one language advantageous.
There are great many other benefits to be derived from the study of Hindi. India, for example, is an emerging economy. More and more countries and firms are doing business with India. Knowing Hindi can therefore offer tremendous financial and economic advantages.
As such, it is my hope that in celebrating World Hindi Day that greater attention will be paid to encouraging more persons in Guyana to undertake studies in Hindi. I am particularly hopeful that it can be ranked amongst the languages that are studied within our schools. It is a subject that will intrigue and excite students and adults alike.
Happy World Hindi Day to all of you!