This story is from March 13, 2010

Now, Hindi classes at Indian embassy in Beijing

The Indian govt has taken a leaf out of Chinese diplomacy — the great dragon has been teaching Chinese language in India for years — and has launched the first course of Hindi-to-Chinese at the Indian embassy's cultural centre in Beijing.
Now, Hindi classes at Indian embassy in Beijing
BEIJING: The Indian government has taken a leaf out of Chinese diplomacy — the great dragon has been teaching Chinese language in India for years — and has launched the first course of Hindi-to-Chinese at the Indian embassy's cultural centre in Beijing.
This comes even as rising interest about India motivated two more universities in Kunming and Guangzhou to announce the launch of Hindi departments this year.
Now, the number of Chinese universities teaching Hindi has risen to nine — there was just one, the Peking University, prior to 2007.
"My students see business and job opportunities in India. Some are motivated by the desire to learn Indian music," says Devendra Shukla, talking to TOI. A professor at the Centre of India Studies at Peking University, Shukla has volunteered to teach at the Indian embassy centre, having conducted the first of the weekly classes last Saturday.
The number of institutions teaching Hindi in China pales in comparison to the more than 150 Indian universities and dozens of other institutes offering Chinese language classes across India. The Chinese embassy in New Delhi is playing a key role in propagating their language in India. In China, it is the craze for Bollywood movies and new economic opportunities in India that is fuelling interest in Hindi, says Jiang Jing Kui, head of the department of South Asian studies.
"These days, we teach students about India's modernization and economic growth, along with normal teaching of Hindi language. We believe India's economic growth will bring a lot of opportunities for Chinese youth," Jiang said. India is only now considering ways to utilize its soft power.
author
About the Author
Saibal Dasgupta

Author of Running with the Dragon: How India Should Do Business with China

End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA