Ninth World Hindi Conference [WHC] in Johannesburg, South Africa from 22-24 September, 2012.

The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India with the support of Hindi Shiksha Sangh, South Africa and other stakeholders is organizing the Ninth World Hindi Conference [WHC] in Johannesburg, South Africa from 22-24 September, 2012.  The Conference will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, 2^ndFloor, Maude Street, Sandton-2196, Johannesburg, South Africa.

 The tradition of the World Hindi Conferences began with the first conference having been organized in Nagpur in the year 1975.  Since then, these conferences have achieved a global profile and momentum of their own. 

 The subsequent eight World Hindi Conferences were organized in different world cities, namely, twice in Port Louis (Mauritius), twice in India, Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), London (UK), Paramaribo (Suriname) and New York (USA).   All these conferences have always attracted a galaxy of renowned scholars and followers of Hindi.  In keeping with this growing reach and popularity of this event, the Government has decided to organize the next conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, which would also be an apt recognition of India’s historic, close and growing ties with the whole of the African continent.  South Africa also carries the profound memories of Mahatma Gandhi’s association with that region.

The 9th World Hindi Conference would deliberate on a series of traditional and contemporary themes related with both classical and modern aspects of Hindi.  The theme of the conference this year will be “Bhasha ki Asmita Aur Hindi Ka Vaishvik Sandarbh”.  The conference would also have nine academic sessions on such subjects as Mahatma Gandhi’s linguistic vision; Hindi and modern technology; role of Indian epics in propagation of Hindi; contribution of foreign scholars in dissemination of Hindi; Mass media and Hindi, etc.

The last eight World Hindi Conferences have been held at the following places:

First WHC  –                    Nagpur [India]  :  10-12 January, 1975

Second WHC –                Mauritius  :  28-30 August, 1976

Third WHC –                   New Delhi [India] :  28-30 October, 1983

Fourth WHC –                 Mauritius :  2-4 December, 1993

Fifth WHC –                    Port of Spain [Trinidad & Tobago] : 4-8 April, 1996

Sixth WHC –                   London [UK] : 14-18 September, 1999

Seventh WHC –              Paramaribo [Suriname] : 6-9 June, 2003

Eighth WHC –                 New York [USA] : 13-15 July, 2007

The themes of the previous eight WHCs were as follows:

First to Fourth WHC          :                Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam
Fifth WHC                             :            Apravaasi Bharateeya Aur Hindi
Sixth WHC                            :            Hindi Aur Bhavee Peerhee
Seventh WHC                      :             Vishwa Hindi : Nai Shatabdi Ki Chunoutiyan
Eighth WHC                         :             Vishwa Manch Par Hindi

The Ninth World Hindi Conference at Johannesburg is being organized with the approval of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and a Steering Committee under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Preneet Kaur has been set up to guide and oversee the organizational process.  On the South African side also, an Organizing Committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of H.E. the High Commissioner of India in Pretoria Shri Virendra Gupta.  The Committee in South Africa has members from a whole range of local organizations and institutions involved in the promotion and propagation of Hindi, and they are being closely assisted by the Consulate General of India and the Indian Cultural Centre in Johannesburg in this endeavour.