Israel celebrated the International Hindi Diwas with a lot of fanfare, with students at the Tel Aviv university participating in a range of activities in Hindi lasting several hours.
The event, which drew hundreds of India enthusiasts, commenced with first year students singing what has become a household tune in Israel, Dil To Pagal Hai, followed by a joke narration contest in Hindi, a quiz contest on general information about India, story telling and a slide show with narration in Hindi on the major events that has shaped today's India.
Reading out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's message in Hindi, Indian Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh said the enthusiastic response showed the strengthening ties between the two countries.
"More than 30,000 Israeli youngsters travel to India every year and often stay for an extended period, learning about its culture and tradition. The bond they forge during their stay is reflected in the enthusiastic response to Indian cultural events in Israel," he said.
Meir Shahar, chairman of the Asia Institute at Tel Aviv University, said that the participation had encouraged the department to organise more India-related cultural programmes and broaden the scope of Hindi teaching at the Institute.
"We in Israel love India and hope that these ties will further deepen through people-to-people contact," Genady Shlumper, a Hindi teacher organising the event said.
Michaeli, a Hindi student, told PTI, "India fills a void that I think no other culture can in my life. My decision to join this department was more emotional than rational and I do not regret it."
Third year Hindi students chose 12 landmark years in the history of independent India and narrated their significance in Hindi, with some strange inclusions showing their deep interest in the country. Among those included - 1947 (Independence), 1950 (Constitution implemented), 1971 (War leading to establishment of Bangladesh), 1974 (Pokhran test), 1980 (First satellite launch that changed India's image from a country of bullock cart), 1986 (Ramayana serial that gripped the country with debate on morality), 1991 (liberalisation of economy), 1992 (Establishment of Indo-Israel diplomatic ties), 1993 (Infosys shares setting new trends in the market) and 2004 (Formation of the United Progressive Alliance government).
