The Indian Weekender - Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame Special - 07 October 2022

6
NEW ZEALAND
Friday, 7 October, 2022
Read online www.iwk.co.nz
‘Made in India’ ship will berth in NZ: Naval Chief
VENU MENON
“It is said that oceans
don’t divide, they unite.
So, as far as the oceans
are concerned, India and New
Zealand are neigbours because
it is the same waters that wash
our shores.
My visit here was to meet
the NZ Navy personnel, interact
with them and see how we can
take the cooperation forward
in the aspects of keeping the
maritime domain safe, secure
and free for everyone to use,”
said Admiral R. Hari Kumar,
India’s Chief of Naval Staff.
Admiral Hari Kumar was
speaking at a reception hosted
by the High Commission of
India at the residence of Bhav
Dhillon, the Honorary Consul in
Auckland, on October 1.
The last Indian ship to
visit NZ was in 2016, the
Admiral noted.
“After that, we also had a sail
ship visiting Lyttleton, which
was manned by [two] ladies.
We couldn’t send a ship this
year because we had a tight
programme. But I promise
you, we’ll have a ship [visiting
NZ] next year. It will be a ship
made in India, as part of the
Atmanirbhar Bharat [Selfreliant
India scheme] of the
Prime Minister.
“We intend to send a ship,
not just to visit Auckland, but
Wellington as well, where NZ’s
Hindi Divas celebrated with full enthusiasm
NAVDEEP KAUR MARWAH
Mahatma Gandhi once said,
“Hindi ke bina main gunga
hoon” (Without Hindi, I am
voiceless).
And seemingly taking a cue from the
same, Hindi and Shikshak Diwas was
celebrated in NZ will full fervour on the
occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (October 2).
The event was organised by Roopa
Aur Aap Charitable trust in collaboration
with Bhartiya Samaj Charitable trust with
the support of the High Commission of
India and Urdu Hindi Cultural Association
of New Zealand at Bhartiya Samaj
Charitable Trust Hall, Mount Roskill,
Auckland, on Sunday (October 2).
The event’s theme was to promote
Hindi as a language and centred around
what role a teacher plays as a tutor.
The event commenced with the
welcome of chief guest Bhav Dhillon,
Hon Consul of India in Auckland, who was
accompanied by his wife, Ruby Dhillon.
The event saw the presence of
many distinguished guests, including
community leaders, scholars, and
teachers, who came together to mark
the celebration.
The event saw guests reciting
ghazals, shayaris, and poetry that
was appreciated by one and all. Those
in attendance included Founder and
Chairperson of Bhartiya Samaj Charitable
Trust, Jeet Suchdev; poetess and
author Dr. Sunita Sharma; community
leader Roshni Chadha; community
leader and Justice of Peace Indu Bajwa
and immigration advisor Nimi Bedi,
among others.
Sharing her experience, Bajwa, who
seat of government is,” Admiral
Hari Kumar added.
Welcoming the move, Mr
Dhillon said: “Events like that
broaden and deepen the
relationship we have between
India and NZ. These visits are
very important and add to the
people-to-people friendship
recited a poem at the event, told Indian
Weekender, “I liked the idea of having
such small events which can promote
the language.
"They also mentioned publishing a book
in Hindi with local talent. As a teacher
and a parent, I believe it’s a collective
effort to promote the language.”
She added, “ As parents, we should
encourage our mother tongue and have a
language teacher guide creative writing.”
Another guest Somnath Gupta recited
his poem, ‘Chehre,’ which was much
we already have in our
300,000-strong diaspora.”
Picking up on the powhiri
(Maori welcome) accorded
to Admiral Hari Kumar on
his arrival in NZ, Minister of
Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic
Communities and Youth
Priyanca Radhakrishnan said:
“I’m pleased that you had a
traditional powhiri or welcome,
and were welcomed into
Maori culture, because that
means a fair bit here. There
are values that link us as well,
values around Manaakitanga
or hospitality, as is said in Te
Reo Maori and Atithi Devo
Bhava in India.
“The oceans, as you
“We are a small
country. We have
small military forces.
We rely on our friends,
and India is one of
those friends… NZ is
a small player, we are
a small country. But
I think everyone here
will agree [that] we
have big hearts. And
we share the same
values that India does,
and we value that
relationship,”
mentioned, connect us. And
above all, I feel, it’s our people.
Because we have five per cent
of NZ that’s made up of New
Zealanders of Indian origin, all
of us. And I feel that, above
everything, is the incredibly
strong connection between our
two countries.”
appreciated by those in attendance.
Regarding the event, Roopa Suchdev,
CEO of Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust,
said, “The event was to promote and
acknowledge our mother tongue Hindi.
Agar hamari bhasha nahi to hum nahi or
matrabhasha nahi to hamara astitva hi
nahi. Hum ek bejan pathar hai.
"If we do not have a language, we can’t
survive, and if we don’t have our mother
tongue, we have no existence. We are
like stone.) Therefore, it is imperative
to have such events and keep our Hindi
language alive and thriving.”
One of the guests, Naresh Kumar,
called the event ‘absolutely amazing.’
Since the event was held on Gandhi
Jayanti, it also acknowledged Mahatma
Gandhi’s birthday and Lal Bahadur
Shastri’s birthday and paid tribute to
them for their sacrifices for the country.
The event concluded with a delectable
dinner and guests mingling with each
other in a relaxed set-up.
There is much in terms of
Indo-Pacific security that the
two countries have in common,
the minister noted.
Mr Dhillon then informed
the gathering that the Indian
High Commission Second
Secretary, Mr Manoj Kumar
Sahu, bore greetings from the
High Commissioner, Smt Neeta
Bhushan, who had “touched
down in NZ” barely hours ago.
Simon O’Connor, National
Member of Parliament
from Tamaki, was then
invited to speak.
“We are a small country. We
have small military forces. We
rely on our friends, and India
is one of those friends… NZ is
a small player, we are a small
country. But I think everyone
here will agree [that] we have
big hearts. And we share the
same values that India does,
and we value that relationship,”
O’Connor said.
The evening closed with
Akhilesh Menon, Defence
Adviser of the Government of
India for NZ (based in Canberra),
requesting Admiral Hari Kumar
to hand over souvenirs to the
hosts, Mr and Mrs Dhillon, as well
as to Minister Radhakrishnan
and MP O’Connor.
The event was to promote
and acknowledge our mother
tongue Hindi. Agar hamari
bhasha nahi to hum nahi
or matrabhasha nahi to
hamara astitva hi nahi. Hum
ek bejan pathar hai. If we
do not have a language, we
can’t survive, and if we don’t
have our mother tongue,
we have no existence. We
are like stone.) Therefore, it
is imperative to have such
events and keep our Hindi
language alive and thriving.”