Dear Editor,
A small article in the Guyana Chronicle caught my attention today. The article referred to World Hindi Day. Previously I did not know that there was a day dedicated to celebrate this language spoken by hundreds of millions of people around the world, and by a large percentage of people in Guyana − mostly words and phrases, and not complete sentences. I recall there was a time, albeit very short, when Hindi was taught in high schools in Guyana. It was open to all Guyanese and I remember how excited students were, as well as many parents. Perhaps it is time for the Ministry of Education to bring the language back into schools. After all, Hindi is a part of the language of Guyana. When someone says, come na bhai, that is Hindi (Chalo na bhai), or when someone uses words like, channa, paglee, aaloo, dahl, roti, puri, kushi, pandit, pajama, bungalow and numerous others, they are speaking Hindi. I see a potential for another linguistic connection among our disparate ethnic groups.
Yours faithfully,
Mohan Singh
And then…we will have to teach Akawaio, Arawak, Arecuna, Carib, Wapishana, Warrau, Macushi, Patamona, Wai-Wai, Portuguese, Chinese, Swahilli, (and a host of other languages which our African ancestors brought with them), French (let us not forget Le Repentir and La Bonne Intention). We must also remember Dutch, (Beterverwagting and Stabroek)! Though I may be running the risk of forgetting other significant elements of our linguistic history (and i apologise to all if I do) I wish to ask a question? When will we make the time to teach our children other subjects such as Engineering, Mathematics, the Sciences, Information Technology, Management, if we intend to spend so much time teaching Hindi and other culturally connected languages! And I nearly forgot. When do we find the time to teach English. More and more, I am begining to feel that we are quickly approaching the time when we will have to teach Standard English as a second language!
In a perfect world it would be possible to integrate Mohan Singh’s proposal into the High Schools’ curriculum as perhaps an OPTION CLASS as students begin to study for their high schools final exams … but sadly we are not living in a perfect world and the costs of hiring special language teachers would cripple the budgets for Guyanese schools.
Speedy has made some interesting comments.
One needs to take consideration of the large percentage of dedicated practising Hindus/Muslims students being taught in the government schools in Guyana as opposed to the teaching of Akawaio, Arawak, Arecuna, Carib, Wapishana, Warrau, Macushi, Patamona, Wai-Wai.
This high percentage of dedicated practising Hindus/Muslims students is enough reason to implement the teaching of Hindi/Urdu as an option.
As I have said, however, on the grounds of costings, the implementation of Mr Singh’s proposal is not logical at this time.
Local mandirs/mosques anyway, should easily be able to step up to the plate and supply the necessary instruction. The Lord helps parents and children who help themselves.
I believe Mohan Singh has lost his mind. Although hindi is one of the spoken languages of India, it is not a required language of Guyana. English is our spoken language, and everyone needs to know that. We also need to know the languages of our neighbors, and that needs to be taught in our schools. For those who need Hindi or any other language, they need to pay for it in a private setting.
MACK. I am with you 100%, except I think that Mr. Singh has not only lost his mind. He is fast asleep in dream land. I hope that when he awakes from his slumber and PERHAPS when the mud falls off his eyes, he will PERHAPS realise, what a silly dream he’s had.
टेक आईटी एअस्य, भाई मोहन. लेट उस कीप हिन्दी इन थे हिन्दी स्चूल्स. ठाट इस गुड एनौघ. (Take it easy, bhai Mohan. Let us keep Hindi in Hindi schools. That is good enough.)
You have the advantage over us yasuman71 because you write good hindi!
You had a good teacher and the teacher had a good student!
I’m a fan of languages. I think that as many languages as possible should be offered at a high school level. Studies have shown that learning languages help students in other areas of study like maths. People from the religious and diplomatic community can be consulted to provide these services.
You know…Hindi in schools might not be a bad idea. Then more people would be able to understand the barrage of Hindi programming on our television stations and radio (singular).
However, I don’t think it’s the best thing in promoting a Guyanese identity if we keep harping back to cultures that are not really our own.
Speedy’s comments on Amerindian languages are another matter all together. I think that these languages need to be preserved as some are unique to Guyana. These languages are spoken in whole in some communities, not in shavings as part of creolese. It would be nice if they are offered as an option in public schools but definitely as part of the curriculum in Amerindian communities to stop their progressive extinction.
What ever happened to our dear ‘One People, One Nation, One destiny’? Choosing a particular language or one race as a focus at schools, in my opinion is not the way forward as it would upset the many different peoples we have have in Guyana alone. Understanding each other and accepting each other and still be able to stand back and say ‘I know who I am and I know who you are’ is a much better way isn’t it? Afterall we must live together!
teach hindi in hindi schools
The proposal to have Hindi taught in schools should not be regarded as a preference of a particular ethnic culture over another; choosing to implement a course of action is not an automatic invalidation of the other options available. Personally, I regretted not paying more attention to foreign languages in school and at home. Living in a globalised society, it is to one’s advantage to speak multiple languages. Pragmatically speaking, with the Asian giants of China and India in the ascendancy, it is not a stretch of imagination to think that having our citizens competent in the languages of these societies will be a positive thing. In addition, with Brazil being the leading economy of South America, more emphasis should be placed on teaching Portuguese in the schools also. French and Spanish are options currently enjoyed – adding Hindi, Chinese, and Portuguese to the options available is positive – these should not be based on ethnic considerations or even viewed as such. A significant number of Guyanese students are pursuing higher studies in India and Cuba – these are areas where language training (however limited) will be most beneficial.
The instinctive response in a diverse society is to immediately view any recommendation or implementation of an initiative that has perceived advantages to a particular culture / community as negative to the wider society at large. We should move beyond this instinct and evaluate the merits of the recommendation in the context of what is can do for the country as a whole. French and Spanish is being taught in our schools – was the rationale for implementing these foreign languages based on ethnic considerations? I would imagine not. Guyana does not have a significant French and Spanish heritage – so arguments that contend that the implementing of a particular language in the curriculum (because of its links to members of a particular ethnic group) will demand that similar actions for other language groups based on ethnic considerations are not wholly valid. Trinidad and Tobago is attempting to become a bilingual society – English and Spanish; would be interesting to know what considerations went into choosing the second language. This could possibly guide our deliberations…
When I learnt Hindi it was under a shed at the back of the mandar.it has created miracle for me during the common entrance exam. I was sent for my then minister ridley and was asked about my profiency in English. I told her it was from Hindi that hat I was able to articulate the gender of pronoun like “I”
I Guyana need Portuguese, Spanish and French if closer ties with the diverse Caribbean would be forged.
I believed if the Caribbean should survive as a tradiding block and a counterbalance to Europe and others the coj should have 9 justices. Seven is too small and eleven is too large for cohesism, English should be the official of the court.
Guyana has the potential to be better than singapor.with natural recourses, tourism and an infrastrure to facilitate many international corporations along with an educated work force.
The revenues from this will facilitate a formidable defense to deal with any border dispute.
This is preposterous!
Can we focus on learning to speak and write the “Queen’s” English? The creole/hindi/whatever dialect that has replaced English certainly has no benefits outside Guyana and I fail to see what if any benefits within Guyana.
Then, perhaps instead consider learning languages that would be beneficial in a global economy.
I would prefer Standard English…this colonial expression must go!