KALIMPONG, Sept. 15. — Tibetan teachers of the Central school for Tibetans (CST) in the past two weeks have been educating the linguistic values of Hindi to their Tibetan students, further inspiring them to take up the language seriously.
As a part of the celebrations for the Hindi Bhasa Diwas, teachers and the students of CST got together for a fortnight celebration (from 1 to 14 September) for the acknowledgment of the language.
Expressing the amazement with which the students sang patriotic themes principal of CST, Mr Tashi Dhundup said: “It is really surprising that the Tibetan students are showing such great enthusiasm for the language. Importantly we wanted them to feel that we are all Indians and that the promotion and understanding is equally important,”
Mr Dhundup said. Debates and essay competitions (all in Hindi) were also a part of the celebrations. “The fifteen Tibetan teachers have also been daily reciting lines with important themes in Hindi during assembly,” Mr Dhundup said.
Mr S Mukherjee staff of CST and convener of Hindi Diwas Celebration Committee said that it is very important to realise that education through national language is best in comparison to any other foreign languages.
At present there are 21 such Centrally funded Tibetans schools throughout India. The CST here has a total of 485 students.
The 17-year-old Nima Lhamu Bhutia a student of the 12 standard said: “Initially we found it difficult to cope-up with Hindi while acting in plays, since we are not used to speaking in that language. But regular practice did sharpen us.”
