The High Commission of India organised a Hindi Day Celebration or Hindi Divas in Suva yesterday.
India’s High Commissioner to Fiji Vishvas Sapkal says the importance of celebrating this day in Fiji is very significant.
Sapkal says the girmitiya period in Fiji was 1879 to 1916 and a lot of people from a lot states from India were brought to Fiji.
He says the Fiji Hindi language is a culmination of many Indian languages.
Sapkal says people had come from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, some had come from the Southern parts of India like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, some had come from Gujrat and all their languages were different.
He says there are 116 languages in India so when the girmitiyas came to Fiji there was no language that was used for communication.
Sapkal says over time the Fiji Hindi language developed from all those languages and became a means of communication within the Indo-Fijian people in Fiji.
He says to celebrate Hindi Divas in Fiji was a very proud occasion.
The event showcased music from prominent musicians, dances, acts and poems by Hindi and Itaukei students.
The event was celebrated at the High Commission of India.
