"Hindi Diwas": India's Hindi Day in Manila

- September 14, 2016, Wednesday.

- If the Philippines celebrates "Buwan/Linggo ng Wika" (Filipino Language Month/Week) during August, India celebrates Hindi Diwas on September 14. Just like in the Philippines, Hindi Diwas is celebrated in India through holding Hindi-related contests (ex. essay-writing contests) or arranging performances that glorify or honor the Hindi language. This event is held on this day, because in 1949, the Indian government made Hindi, with the Sanskrit-derived Devanagari alphasyllabary as its written form, as the official language of India.

- First Secretary Dr. Suresh Kumar of the Indian Embassy contacted me last week and requested me to come to the embassy today to give a short speech about my experiences with Hindi. Now I had Hindi lessons in 2013 as a requirement for my master's, and I can do a simple conversation in Hindi, but I have never made a speech in Hindi though I have spoken the language in public. Since it was an Embassy-led event, I wanted my speech to be half-formal-half-casual. Finally, I made a one-page speech about my journey in learning the language, embracing the language, and eventually, loving its motherland even more (i.e. India.) I was allowed to bring guests, so I brought my mom and my sister.

I am the lost child of India.

Mom always asks me when she could wear her kurtas and kameezes (all of which I bought for her in some of my travels.) Today, I gave her a reason to wear one of her kurtas. She even had a matching dupatta/scarf and churidar/tight-fitting pants (yes, I also bought her those.)

- The event started around 4:30 at the ground floor of the Indian Embassy. Apart from celebrating Hindi Day, the event was also my reunion with my MA adviser, Dr. Joefe Santarita (who is also the current dean of the UP Asian Center and one of the Indian specialists in the Philippines,) my friend and co-South-Asian-major Denzel, and other colleagues from the UP Asian Center.

An excerpt of my speech. (Thank you Indian friends Jashwin and Jasmine for helping me proofread my speech. You guys are the bestestestestest!!) 

- Dr. Kumar asked me and Dr. Santarita to sit on either side of the Indian Ambassador, His Excellency L.D. Ralte. My speech went first, with my hands shaking in nervousness (especially after being seated next to the ambassador.) After my speech (which I hope was well received,) Dr. Santarita gave an informative speech about the importance of Indian-Philippine relations. Afterwards, there was a short awarding ceremony for the Hindi essay-writing contest. Entries were submitted online days before, and the winners were the only ones invited to attend Hindi Diwas in the Indian Embassy so they can get their prizes.

"Vishva Hindi Diwas" (World Hindi Day.)

Dr. Santarita, H.E. Lalduhthlana Ralte, and me (and my cheeky smile.)

It's showtime. If had a title for my speech, it would be "The Story of My Life." Hahahaha. I literally had anecdotes of my when I was little.

Ambassador's speech.

A blurred photo (thanks sis....) of my getting my gift from the Ambassador.

- After the short event, which surprisingly did not even last 30 minutes, we had light Indian snacks to celebrate. We had samosas, ladoos, and jamuns. I caught up with Dr. Santarita and Denzel, and had some chat with Dr. Kumar and H.E. L.D. Ralte. We finished around 6pm and rode back home. I was happy that I finally had an opportunity to visit the embassy for some semi-official reason, and for me to be able to finally give a speech in Hindi. I've honestly wondered since my mid-teens, when I started learning Hindi on my own, if I would be able to somehow give a speech in the presence of some distinguished Indian and in front of an Indian audience; never in my life did I think I'd have the opportunity to do so.  

YAY FOR INDIAN FOOD!!

South Asian boyzz unite.

My forever ritual when meeting the ambassador - a photo with him.

Matchy-matchy with the Dr. Santarita, and Denzel looked like a mormon. HAHA.