Indian culture has always captured hearts—whether through fashion, festivals, or language. People from all over the world come to India, trying to speak in Hindi, wear Indian sarees, or savor Indian food. Amid all this, the most spoken language, Hindi, has gained prominence in the headlines.
The UN Ambassador highlighted that Hindi is no longer confined within boundaries and has gained global recognition. It is now a widely appreciated language that fosters inclusivity. The Ambassador also emphasized the need to promote Hindi so that people can connect and empower themselves worldwide. The Permanent Mission of India to the UN, on Friday, organized a special event at the UN Headquarters to celebrate Hindi Diwas. Several delegates of the Indian Parliament attended the event, as they are currently on a visit to the UN.
Hindi Breaks Barriers: Highlights From The UN Events-
There were several Indian and UN ambassadors attending the event. The delegation leader, Birender Prasad Baishya, also a member of Parliament, addressed the gathering and highlighted the appeal of Hindi in different countries. He enthusiastically began his remarks in Hindi with “Namaskar Dosto.”
Ian Phillips, Director of the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC), highlighted the global reach of Hindi as “truly impressive.” Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world, after English and Mandarin, with 600 million speakers worldwide. He also mentioned that someone spoke Hindi for the first time in the UN General Assembly in 1949.
“In a world where artificial intelligence is gaining ground, India has a major role to play and Hindi language remains a key channel to communicate with millions who represent the next generation of leaders,” Phillips said.
World Leaders About Hindi-
Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa said,”The Hindi language has played an important role in fostering economic opportunities and mobility between and among our peoples. Its widespread use has facilitated trade, tourism and cross-border business ventures”
He further added, “Hindi carries a rich heritage and has facilitated the transmission of cultural identity and values. This language can also create opportunities for economic growth, educational advancement, healthcare improvements, social development and community engagement. It helps bridge gaps, foster collaborations and promote inclusivity in diverse regions,”
Mauritius’ Permanent Representative to the UN Jagdish Dharamchand Koonjul appriciated hindi and said it holds a profound place in his country. Hindi arrived in Mauritius with the indentured labourers in the 19th century, he said, “Despite numerous challenges, Hindi thrived in the country, becoming not just a means of communication, but a bridge to preserve traditions, spirituality and their cultural identity.”
“Let us work together to promote Hindi as a global language, ensuring that it continues to inspire, connect and empower people across the world,” he added.
Guyana’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Trishala Persaud told that in her country Hindi words everyday in her country, she said, ” “Many of the Hindi words spoken in Guyana come from the Bhojpuri dialect of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,” she said, adding that it is very common to hear Guyanese refer to vegetables as ‘aloo and baigan’, or to eating ‘roti’, ‘dal’, ‘jalebi’ and hear relatives addressed lovingly as ‘Chacha’, ‘Chachi’, or ‘Aaji’.
During his address, DGC Director Phillips said Hindi has contributed words like ‘jungle’, ‘pajamas’, ‘bungalow’, ‘yoga’ and ‘guru’ to the English language. “Bollywood, the world’s largest film industry, has popularised Hindi and Indian culture globally,” he said.
Phillips Also added few other detailsand said that India co-sponsored a UNGA resolution on multilingualism, which for the first time mentioned Hindi along with Bangla and Urdu. In the spirit of multilingualism, India began a partnership with the Department of Global Communications in 2018 to present global news and multimedia content in Hindi. “The UN News Hindi website was launched in January 2019, and with the related social media platforms, we continue to grow our reach and audience. Roughly 40% of active users are aged between 18 and 24 years old, and around 80% of traffic comes from mobile devices. UN News Hindi has evolved to create new content formats showcasing stories from the field, engaging audiences on issues like AI, youth empowerment, and women’s rights.”
