The wind of a ‘Hindi-craze’ are blowing in New Zealand, as three Hindi schools have opened up in Auckland and Hamilton, wherein everyone from children to senior citizens, are studying holy scriptures like the Geeta and Ramayana, along with the Hindi language. The foundation of the Hindi school in Auckland’s Henderson was laid back in 2001 by the people of Indian origin, and at that point in time, adult Indians were reading the Ramayana, while the children were playing. That was when the school’s chairman, Saten Sharma had asked the children as to why they did not read the Ramayana.
To this, the children had replied saying that they could not read Hindi, and this was how the initiative of opening up a Hindi school was taken. Some Indians from Fiji took the responsibility to assure that the Ramayana in Hindi should be spread to and among the next generation. The school opened in 2001 with 40 students, and till 2022, 260 students became a part of the school. And so that the new generation studies the Ramayana, and sings musical songs, Indian music became a part of the curriculum in 2003.
In the beginning, India’s Basant started teaching students to play the harmonium and the table, and he was joined by Fiji’s teacher, Ashok. And under this curriculum, people aged from 5 to 63 started learning Hindi and music.
Sharma said that their slogan is, “Our language, our identity”. The second branch of the school was then opened in Auckland’s Papatoetoe, and as per Sharma, now competitions of Hindi and Indian music take place too, and in order to improve their skills and present them, the children are provided with the stage. The third branch has been opened in Hamilton.
