Festival of India in South Africa

Hindi Literary Programme

The Festival of India in South Africa – Hindi Literary Programme will be held from July 25 to July 30-2014 in association with the Ministry of External Affairs – India represented by the High Commission of Indian in Pretoria. Ten highly acclaimed Hindi academics from India representing the “Sahitya Akademi” of India will form the integral component of the Hindi Literary programme. They are listed below:

 

Dr Naresh Saxena Dr Om Kumar Mishra Shri Prem Shankar Shukla Shri Bhagwan Singh Dr Revati Raman Shri Sheo Narayan Dr Rambachan Rai Shri Ashok Chakradhar Shri Prem Janmejay Dr K Sreenivasaro

Eminent Hindi Poet Eminent Hindi Poet & Critic Eminent Hindi Poet and Critic Eminent Hindi Poet and Critic Eminent Hindi Critic Eminent Hindi Poet and Critic Eminent Hindi Poet and Critic Former Professor Jamia Reader, University of Delhi Secretary: Sahitya Academy (Co-ordinator)

The programme will commence on Friday, July 25, 2014 commencing at 18h00 with a Welcome Dinner and Poetry Recital at the Aryan Hall in Pietermaritzburg and on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27 at the Sangh’s Headquarters in Kharwastan, Durban. On Tuesday, July 29 the Consulate General of India: Offices in Parktown in Johannesburg and on Wednesday, July 30 at the residence of the High Commissioner of India Virendra Gupta, 298 Mons Road, Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria. This is an invitation to all to attend at the venue closest to you and also invite your family and friends to this “First Ever Hindi Festival” in South Africa.

Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) Midlands Region celebrates 40 years of Hindi Promotion 

The 2014 Winning Team: Jaagruti Hindi Paatshala – Pietermaritzburg

 

Rasiethorpe Arya Samaj Senior Citizens participate in the 2014 Hindi Eistedfod

Participants from Jaagruti Hindi Paatshala singing the South African National Anthem in Hindi at the opening of the Eistedfod

Tribute to stalwart s  husband and wife team who have supported the Sangh in several ways, teaching Hindi and the Recital of Ramayan and Bhagwad Gita

Srm  Bimladevi  Bhen and  Bhai Pandit Ramesh Sharma of Silverglen, DurbanFor the past 12 years Pt Ramesh Sharmaji has been teaching Hindi under the auspices of the Arya Yuvuk Sabha, Arena Park Chatsworth. In addition, to Hindi he and bhenji have been conducting Ramayana classes. Many members of the Dayanand Gardens Stree Samaj have benefitted from his classes with a few of them even presenting programmes in Hindi on Radio Hindvani. This year over 25 students wrote and passed Hindi examinations in the various grades, many of whom were able to get 1^st and 2^nd class passes. The diligence continues with students coming to Chatsworth from as far as Umzinto and Central Durban.

Bhenji’s and Panditji’s passion for Hindi and the Ramayan knows no boundaries. He is able to quote Dohas and chopais from the Ramayan and other excerpts from religious scriptures with ease – all indelibly inscribed in their memories. His teaching methodology is also in many ways unique. While he would follow the syllabi of the Sangh closely, he also concentrates largely on the ethics and values that Indian culture advocates – providing a unique balance between the study of the Hindi and Vedic wisdom.

These quiet and unassuming pillars of strength to the Hindu community hav affable personalities. In addition to Panditji’s work as a Hindu Purohit, he also spends much of his time in counselling, attending conferences and generally upgrading his own knowledge so that he keeps up to date with the new developments. As a long standing member of the Sanathan Dharma Sabha and its Purohit Mundal, he has been instrumental in streamlining the many rituals in Hinduism so that people understand them and their respective symbolism.

Bhenji and Panditji were also instrumental in starting the Gitanjali Hindi Patshala in Silverglen and he serves as a priest, board member and teacher at the Laxminarayan Temple in Mobeni Heights, Durban. Similarly, Panditji and bhenji have started several other “family” Ramayan Recital initiatives, Hindi teaching and understanding of Hindu Dharma. At the Sangh, their contribution is immeasurable.  They helped through the development of the Sangh, fundraised for its buildings in Kharwastan helped with the organising of events, helped with the Academic and Cultural Committees.