Beijing: It started with "Hindi-Chini
bhai bhai", followed by "Chindia" and now the Sino-Indian
friendship slogan was transformed into "Chindustan", with
steadily rising numbers of students learning Chinese and Hindi
to cash in on the booming bilateral trade.
Peking University, China's most prestigious
institution of higher learning had a Hindi flavour today as
over 100 Hindi students and Professors from all over China
converging in the campus to celebrate "India Day".
"Hindi is being taught in nine universities in China
with the steady increase of students, while India will be
introducing Chinese language in CBSE syllabus from next year,
which will make us all the 'Chindustanies'", Prof Jiang
Jingkui, Head, Department of South Asian Studies of the Peking
University said.
Jiang said that during his visits to Tamil Nadu, where
the language was not so popular, he insisted the bearers who
served him in hotels to speak to him in Hindi with a threat
that he would not pay the bill otherwise.
"It worked", he said laughing.
Several Chinese students who took part in the meeting
feel confident of getting absorbed by business houses, cashing
in on the rapidly increasing bilateral trade, which crossed
USD 61 billion last year.
"The job prospects of translators and communicators
was rising as India-China business is rapidly growing and we
want to tap this potential," Mao Lei, a Hindi graduate student
who came from Loyang along with 10 of his class mates said.
The South Asian Studies in Peking University has
Indian Study Centre headed by Hindi scholar from India, Prof
Davendra Shukla and a host of Chinese professors, specialising
in teaching Hindi, besides Sanskrit and Tamil.
With bilateral relations cruising along a positive
momentum, the Indian Embassy here organised the "India Day" at
the University to highlight job and education opportunities
for Chinese students in India.
Addressing the students, Indian Ambassador to China, S
Jaishankar said, "India is part of China's past, present and
future. Our past connections are visible in many of China's
historical monuments, religious traditions and cultural
heritage.
"In the more contemporary world, we are both
significant elements in the political and economic revival of
Asia," he said.
"Looking at the future, it is increasingly clear that
India-China relations will play a major role in reshaping the
global order. The convergence of interests on key issues like
climate change and food and energy security is manifest," he
said.
Senior Indian diplomat Arun Sahu said considering the
growing passion for Indian languages, efforts are being made
by India to galvanise the pool of talent for the betterment of
India-China relations.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, May 22, 2011, 18:30