Hindi remains a vital part of Fiji’s cultural identity, with Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran calling for the language and its traditions to be preserved and passed on to future generations.
She highlighted this during the Hindi Diwas 2026 Kavi Sammelan held at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Suva last night as part of Hindi Pakhwada 2026.
The event, organised by the High Commission of India and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, brought together about 10 poets who presented works exploring a range of themes including nature, the Kurukshetra within us, artificial intelligence and the Hindi language.
One of the poems also brought humour to the evening, focusing on a man and his difficult relationship with his mother-in-law.
Kiran says language is not just a medium of communication, but a vehicle of identity, culture, knowledge and memories.
She paid tribute to Fiji’s ancestors, mothers, Pandits and teachers who worked to preserve Hindi despite the struggles and challenges they faced.
Kiran says Fiji Hindi has evolved through the different languages spoken by the Girmitiyas, while Devanagari Hindi was preserved through schools and community institutions.
She says understanding each other’s language and culture is important for peace and harmony in Fiji.
She says poetry has a unique ability to connect people with their history, roots and shared humanity.
Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Sumeet Mehta says the relationship between India and Fiji is not only between governments, but also between people, families, cultures and shared heritage.
Mehta says Hindi provides a sense of belonging, particularly in Fiji where the language has developed its own identity through the country’s soil, society and culture.
He says when people hear Hindi in a new place, it can immediately create a feeling of belonging.
Mehta says past generations kept their language, songs, stories, traditions and cultures alive during difficult times, and the responsibility now lies with the present generation to pass that heritage on.
He says there can be no better expression of the heritage of language than poetry.
Mehta says poetry can connect people to their roots, ask questions, express emotions and give voice to feelings within.
He says Hindi should not only be protected but also taken forward with changing times.
Mehta says the digital world has opened new opportunities for languages, with poetry no longer limited to the pages of a book.
He says Hindi poetry can reach younger generations through social media and video and connect people in different parts of the world.
