By Mewati Sitaram
In a goodwill gesture, the Government of India has offered to study Hindi language to Sri Lankan students. In this regard, thirty-six Sri Lankan students have been selected for fully funded scholarships to be taught in India. The Indian government will sponsor their visit, academic fees and local hospitality for the nine-month course. The Hindi studies will be organised at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (KHS) or Central Institute of Hindi, Agra. The course will commence from August 2024 to May 2025.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka H.E. Santosh Jha interacted with the students before their departure to India, On 25 July 2024. He highlighted the role of Hindi language and literature in strengthening the millennia-old cultural, linguistic, literary, and religious ties between both countries. The links between Hindi and Sinhala words and the origins of words were also discussed. High Commissioner Jha conveyed his best wishes to the scholars for their stay in India.
The students are selected from various institutions and Universities. The selected students include six from the University of Kelaniya, four each from the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Rajarata University in Anuradhapura, two each from the Sri Palee campus of the University of Colombo, Buddhist and Pali University, University of Sabaragamuwa and University College of Matara and three from the Jethavanarama Buddhist Monastery.
It may be noted that the Cultural arm of the High Commission of India, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre has been coordinating this scholarship since 2011. In the past 13 years, over 170 students from Sri Lanka have been awarded this scholarship titled “Propagation of Hindi Abroad”. This year, the highest number of students has been selected from Sri Lanka. Hindi language, literature and cinema continue to play a significant role in further deepening the millennia-old civilisational ties between India and Sri Lanka.
It is worth mentioning and a matter of pride that Hindi enjoys wide-spread affection of students and people in Sri Lanka. Hindi is being taught in almost 100 institutions including renowned schools and Universities of Sri Lanka.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
