Classes for Indian languages help Hongkongers connect with their roots, embrace diversity

The gala raised awareness about the importance of preserving Indian culture and language.

Sanskriti Global Group teaches classes in Indian languages to nearly 100 young students in Hong Kong and Singapore every year. They also have classes in India and Canada. Once their students have learned enough Hindi, they are recommended to sit for examinations from the Indian government.

The group’s founder is Geetanjali Dhar, who arrived in Hong Kong more than two decades ago. According to Dhar, it is easy for younger generations to lose touch with their heritage.

Dhar shared that 30 per cent of Sanskriti Global’s students were children whose parents wanted them to learn multiple languages.

“Our student body is made up of children from Indian origin families who may have never lived in India or those who come from mixed marriages,” she said.

Ethnic minority seniors in Hong Kong find their voice through art

One of Sanskriti Global’s pupils is Neil Reddy, a 10-year-old student at the French International School. He said that learning Hindi has helped him communicate with friends and family when he visits India.

“Watching Bollywood movies helps me practise my Hindi, and I am also learning French and Mandarin at the same time,” Neil said.

Seven-year-old Yashna Melwani has been learning Hindi since the age of one. Her parents have never lived in India, but they wanted her to be connected to their roots.

“I speak Hindi with my helper auntie, who is from India,” said Yashna, who attends International Montessori School. “I made a lot of friends in the class, and I really enjoy my weekly lessons.”

Sonali* has been sending her daughter to Sanskriti’s Hindi classes for the last year.

The mother shared: “Her accent went away, and she got comfortable with the language very quickly.”

It’s not just children with Indian heritage who are interested in learning Hindi.

“India is a rapidly advancing economy that will be a big market in the future ... highlighting the global relevance of learning Hindi,” Dhar said.

For Hongkonger Melissa Stone Bhasin, her desire to learn Hindi began when she was working in India.

“During tea breaks, my colleagues would gossip, and I would be left out,” recalled Bhasin, who is in her early 30s.

She started learning Hindi there, and a few years after returning to Hong Kong in 2019, she began taking Sanskriti’s classes.

“I found that in Sanskriti, there was structure around its courses that I could adhere to. Otherwise, the language learning process is very ad hoc,” she noted.

Now, her reading and writing abilities are strong, and she is improving her speaking skills. Last month, she was on a panel at Sanskriti Utsav; this was her first time speaking in Hindi for an audience.

Bhasin’s language skills also help her connect with her husband, who is from India.

Aside from adults looking to pick up new skills, Sanskriti Global also provides language training for Hong Kong’s Immigration Department and police force. They teach Hindi, Nepalese and Bahasa Indonesian. This helps government employees connect with the city’s ethnic minority communities.

Sanskriti Global serves students of all ages and backgrounds. It is helping people learn about diversity through language.

*Full name withheld at interviewee’s request.

To test your understanding of this story, download our printable worksheet or answer the questions in the quiz below.