Tele-Celebrities share their views on Hindi Diwas!

This #HindiDiwas, celebrities talk about their love for the language and how more people must understand the significance of the language.

Anusha Mishra : Technically Hindi is not our national language, it is our official language, India does not have a national language. But, globalization and the want to exist and be accepted by the world has led to many of us accepting English as one of our communicative languages. Since I was a baby, I’ve been taught every single word in Hindi and English both, so I’m pretty much bilingual. And I don’t think learning a new language or accepting a new Language is a bad thing at all – it helps you grow! I’ve always scored amazingly in languages so I’m biased! (laughs) but, but I find Hindi is extremely detailed and the Devnagri script is the most beautiful and important for anyone wanting to learn a new language, it helps me learn Hangul and Spanish better. We don’t often receive scripts in the Devnagri Lipi, but I love reading Hindi novels. Premchand ji remains my favourite along with Gulzar Saab and Amrita Pritam ji.

Dr. Acharya Vinod Kumar Ojha : Hindi is our matrbhasha. I speak shudh Hindi. I have lived in Gurukul and I value Hindi. I use Hindi personally and professionally. It is such a rich language. We all should speak it proudly. Indians need to change their attitude toward their mother tongue. In schools, Hindi should be a compulsory subject and not optional. Our sahitya is also rich. Be it Munshi Premchand’s or Rabindranath Tagore’s work all are excellent

Prateik Chaudhary : I am very close to the language Hindi. English doesn’t have the same feel that you get when you read it in Hindi. I feel that actors should be really comfortable in Hindi, it should be spoken with such ease and comfort that it seems like your first language. Though these days mostly novels are available in English, there are so many gems in Hindi too. Sadly, they are not publicized or promoted like English, but the ones who love to read, they enjoy reading Hindi novels the most because it has a different feel to it altogether. I feel our culture and heritage is more beautifully expressed in Hindi. The stories of our country are better conveyed in it than in any other language. Also, all our vedas and religious books are in Hindi, so it shouldn’t be like you can’t read them after a couple of lines, one should be comfortable in reading it the same way they read an English novel.

Rahul Sharma : As a Hindi medium student, I have a deep love for the language because of its beauty and expressiveness. In special situations, Hindi excels in conveying thoughts and emotions compared to English, which often falls short. Speaking about English, when I began my career, I faced challenges due to my limited proficiency. I now see it as a means of communication rather than a source of pride. While we take pride in our ability to speak English and appreciate its global importance, Hindi holds a unique beauty in expressing emotions. English serves as a communication tool, but I believe Hindi-speaking individuals often excel in various aspects. Hindi remains the preferred language for meaningful conversations, even in professional settings. Although English has a role in sectors like business, it’s unlikely to replace Hindi as our primary language. I take pride in my excellent command of Hindi, which has been valuable in my career. While I may not be perfect in English, I don’t feel ashamed. However, not being proficient in Hindi, despite it being our primary language, would be disappointing.

Farnaz Shetty : We begin with English due to our deep engagement with social and networking platforms, as it serves as a universal connector, transcending geographical boundaries. Corporate companies rely on English for official documents and international business exchanges, making it essential. Our proficiency in English improves with time. While Hindi is our industry’s primary language, I predominantly speak English due to my social circle and convent education. Yet, I have a profound love for Hindi, evident in my extensive reading of Hindi books and fluency in both Hindi and Urdu. Despite stereotypes associating Hindi with outdatedness, I disagree. Hindi’s beauty and expressiveness are unparalleled. Some may view speaking Hindi, especially when traveling abroad, as outdated, but I embrace multilingualism. I’m even learning Telugu for my work in the Telugu industry. Every language carries unique essence. While some shy away from speaking Hindi in our own country, others criticize English speakers insensitively. Language choice is personal, and one should never feel ashamed of it.

Khushdeep Bansal : I wasn’t originally a Hindi speaker; I was born in Punjab and studied in Punjabi medium schools until I pursued engineering, which introduced me to English. However, during my engineering years in the late 1980s, I was deeply influenced by Shri. Kuppahalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan’s Hindi speech in Hyderabad, sparking my interest in learning Hindi. Studying in Maharashtra, I worked on improving my Hindi, inspired by my mentor, Dr. Chandragupt Varnekar, fluent in multiple languages. I enhanced my Hindi by reading Hindi translations of English books, starting with Hindi poetry, particularly Atal Ji’s poems and works by Shri Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, who inspired me with his literature on Nath Sampradaya and Sant Kabir. I now prefer reading in Hindi and aim to communicate primarily in Hindi. I even assisted a French professor with Hindi when she struggled with English during her research work in India. I have faith that Hindi’s popularity is growing globally, even though its usage within our country is decreasing. Happy Hindi Diwas, and I hope Hindi literature and poetry continue to flourish, enriching our culture and cinema.

Simple Kaul : It’s actually quite amusing. I’ve never really delved into Hindi literature. I don’t typically read books in Hindi; I tend to prefer reading in English because that’s how I’ve been accustomed to reading. I mean, language is primarily a means of communication for me, and I don’t believe it should carry too much emotional weight. However, I do recognize that it’s just a tool for communication, and I’ve noticed that many people, including those around me, often blend Hindi with English in their conversations. This is how we were raised, speaking both English and Hindi fluently, so I don’t perceive a significant distinction between the two. I don’t see any issue with people conversing in English. Besides, we are all proficient in Hindi as well. We use it for our conversations and studies. So, I disagree with the notion that people exclusively speak in English; most of us are bilingual. I can certainly read my scripts in Hindi if needed. I have no issue with the language. But when it comes to reading books, I choose English because, as I mentioned earlier, I find it more comfortable to read in that language.