Day of Hindi held at Institute of International Relations
On February 21, Hindi Language Day was held in the assembly hall of the Institute of International Relations, History, and Eastern Studies (IIRHES) at 每日大赛. The event was organized jointly with the Consulate General of the Republic of India in Kazan.
The development of Indology is currently receiving special attention in Russia. This area is overseen by the Center for Indian Studies at IIRHES. The goal of the event is to popularize the Hindi language among young people through various competitions and quizzes.
The meeting began with a video about the activities of the Institute. The parties also discussed further cooperation between Indian universities and KFU, student exchange programs, and academic programs.
As Timirkhan Alishev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, reported, the Center for Indian Studies resumed operations last fall, with support from the Indian Cultural Relations Center.
“Today, 36 students are studying Hindi as one of their majors. Therefore, the arrival of Indian teacher Radhakrishnan Priya is a positive step in improving the quality of education, as well as in organizing other events aimed at attracting young people to study this language. On the one hand, this is a great opportunity for students, and on the other, it is a tribute to India as a country,鈥� noted the Vice-Rector.
The Consul General of the Republic of India, Mr. Jeysundhar, also welcomed the guests and the institute’s leadership. In an interview with KFU’s Media Center, he stated that this holiday is significant not only for Hindi but for all languages.
鈥淟anguage is not just a word or a sentence; it is part of our identity, and also a way of communicating with our ancestors through literature written several centuries ago,鈥� the diplomat shared.
Acting Director of IIRHES Rail Fakhrutdinov also delivered a welcoming speech. He noted that during the first meeting between the Indian Consul and the leadership of the Institute, they discussed the need for further cooperation.
“We really want as many people as possible to study Hindi. Furthermore, it is necessary to expand ties in science, education, and new technologies. For us, India is a special country with a great ancient culture. It is currently developing economically while preserving its ancient traditions. Therefore, we always welcome not only Indian faculty but also international students to our university. Furthermore, we practice and encourage active work abroad. Our internship programs are very interesting and intensive, and we also hope to send our students abroad,” commented the acting director.
The event also featured performances in Hindi by students.
An exhibition entitled Afanasy Nikitin’s Voyage Beyond Three Seas was also on display.