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Israel celebrates Hindi Diwas with fanfare
The International Hindi Diwas was celebrated in Tel Aviv drawing hundreds of India enthusiasts.
The International Hindi Diwas was celebrated in Tel Aviv with a lot of fanfare, drawing hundreds of India enthusiasts with students at the Tel Aviv university participating in a range of activities in Hindi lasting several hours.
Students of first year sang what has become a household tune in Israel, Dil To Pagal Hai, to kick start the evening followed by a joke narration contest in Hindi, a quiz contest on general information about India, story telling and a slide show with narration in Hindi on the major events that has shaped today's youth.
Winners of an essay contest in Hindi organised by The Asia Institute at the university before the start of the programme and winners of other contests were given prizes by the Indian Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh.
Reading out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's message in Hindi, Singh said the enthusiastic response shows the strengthening ties between the two countries.
"More than 30,000 Israeli youngsters travel to India every year and often stay for an extended period learning about its culture and tradition. The bond they forge during their stay is reflected in the enthusiastic response to Indian cultural events in Israel", he said.
The chairman of the Asia Institute at Tel Aviv university, Meir Shahar, said that the participation has encouraged the department to organise more India related cultural programmes and to broaden the scope of Hindi teaching at the Institute.
"We in Israel love India and hope that these ties will further deepen with people to people contact," Genady Shlumper, a Hindi teacher organising the event said.
A student of Hindi, Michaeli, who won a prize in the joke contest told a news agency, "India fills a void that I think no other culture can in my life. My decision to join this department was more emotional than rational and I do not regret it".
Students of third year chose twelve landmark years in the history of independent India, narrating its significance in Hindi, with some strange inclusions showing their deep interest in the country.
Among those included were -- 1947 (Independence), 1950 (Constitution implemented), 1971 (War leading to establishment of Bangladesh), 1974 (for the Pokhran test), 1980 (first satellite launch that changed India's image from a country of bullock cart), 1986 (Ramayana serial that gripped the country with debate on morality), 1991 (liberalisation of economy), 1992 (establishment of Indo-Israel diplomatic ties), 1993 (Infosys shares setting new trends in the market) and 2004 (formation of the new government).
The student choosing 2004 for the formation of the new Congress government said, "We hope that it continues with the strong Indo-Israel ties" in the justification of its choice.
A Indian origin singer, Leora Itzhak, sang bhajans, a Punjabi song and a Bollywood number from the film Sangam in the company of Israeli artists on Sitar and Tabla to the applause of the capacity crowd towards the end of the programme.
