Youth urged to take the lead in preserving the Hindi language

The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Mahendra Gondeea, urged students to make greater use of Hindi and to play an active role in preserving the language, culture and identity.

He was speaking at the finals of the Primary School Hindi Storytelling Competition 2026, held this morning, at the Municipal City Council of Port Louis (MCCPL).

Organised by the Hindi Speaking Union (HSU) operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Culture, the competition brought together around 100 primary school students.

The Lord Mayor of the MCCPL, Mrs Christelle Pondard; the President of the HSU, Dr Anjalee Chintamunnee; and other personalities were present on the occasion.

In his address, Minister Gondeea commended the participants for their courage and dedication to performing in Hindi, emphasising that their efforts are vital to preserving the language, culture and identity. He underlined that these initiatives instil core values such as kindness, honesty, respect, and courage, as well as nurture imagination and creativity.

The Minister lauded the HSU’s ongoing efforts to keeping the Hindi language and culture vibrant among the youth.

Mr Gondeea furthermore encouraged the students to set ambitious goals, pursue them relentlessly and continue making their parents and teachers proud.

For her part, Mrs Pondard noted that such initiatives provide an invaluable platform for students to showcase their talents. She reaffirmed her commitment to celebrating diverse cultures and fostering artistic growth, stressing that art and culture must remain vital to community life.

As for Dr Chintamunnee, she stated that every participant is a winner for having the courage to perform in Hindi before an audience. According to her, such competitions not only promote the Hindi language, but also help students to express themselves with confidence.

The competition

The first prize was awarded to Kharaanshu Tacoorpersad, student at the Rajcoomar Gujadhur Government School.

Shreya Chaturvedi, student at the Ernest Florent Government School, obtained the second prize.

The third prize was remitted to Mitzy Saint Paul, student at the Pardoomun Shibchurn Government School.

All finalists were rewarded with medals and cash prizes.

28 May 2026

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Topics: Culture, Education