Author: Shailendra Singh
Publication: India Abroad
Date: April 6, 2001
SUVA -- The capital of the Pacific
island nation of Fiji is to play host to the World Millennium Hindi Convention
from June 21 to 23.
Suruj Pal, the national treasurer
of the Fiji Hindi Sahitya Samiti, which is organizing the event, said it
would essentially be a gathering of local and overseas Hindi scholars to
discuss and share work and ideas. At least 100 overseas scholars are expected
to take part in the convention.
Indigenous Fijians, who take Hindi
classes, will also participate in the convention. Across Fiji, several
thousand indigenous Fijians attend Indian schools and many of them take
Hindi classes. Many indigenous Fijian students excel in Hindi and they
would be showcased at the convention, Pal said.
He said one of the major aims of
organizing such an event is to promote multiculturalism and understanding
in the country among indigenous Fijians and ethnic Indians. About 42 percent
of Fiji's population is made up of ethnic Indians and 53 percent of indigenous
Fijians. Political and racial tensions have led to three coups in the country
in the last 15 years.
