Hindi Diwas is celebrated every year on 14 September to commemorate the day Hindi was adopted as one of India’s official languages. Across the globe, it has grown into more than a linguistic celebration, it is a cultural bridge that connects generations and communities.
In Australia, the Indian Literary and Art Society of Australia (ILASA) Inc. has been leading these efforts, hosting national-level competitions and events that bring together children, adults, and families to honor the enduring spirit of Hindi.
This year, ILASA once again organized its much-anticipated poetry and story competition, attracting around 85 participants ranging in age from 5 to 80. Entries poured in from Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, reflecting the widespread enthusiasm within the Indian diaspora.
The poetry competition was divided into three categories—children aged 5–8, children aged 9–13, and teenagers aged 14–18—while adults took part in a story recitation competition, submitting recorded video presentations. The panels of judges brought both expertise and sensitivity to the task: Dr. Shailja Chaturvedi, Harihar Jha, Shipra Tewani, and Richa Raj judged the poetry entries, while acclaimed Australian theatre artists Vipul Vyas, Jyotsna Jyoti, and Sanjay Khanna evaluated the story recitations.
Prizes worth approximately $1,500 were distributed, with 19 awards presented across categories. First, second, and third place winners received $100, $75, and $50 respectively, along with several $40 consolation prizes, generously supported by sponsors.
In the Adult category, the first to third prize winners were Sudhashu Vachaspati and Kishor Nangrani from Canberra, and Vipin Gaindhar from Melbourne. A consolation prize was awarded to Namita Matani from Sydney.
In the 14–18 category, the first to third prize winners were Shaunak Chatterjee from Melbourne, Ipshita Kumar from Sydney, and Siddhi Agarwal and Pranshu Mistry from Melbourne.
The 9–13 category received 35 entries, with Myra Kumar winning first prize, Anvay Thakur second, and Labh Kataria third. Consolation prizes were awarded to Arjun Pardeshi and Ruby Lin.
In the 5–8 category, the winners were Avya Kohli from Perth, Dhawani Jain and Prahar from Sydney, and Vratant Gupta from Melbourne.
The quality of entries this year was especially impressive. Both children and adults demonstrated not only remarkable creativity but also a profound connection to the Hindi language and its literature. A special note of appreciation goes to the parents, whose encouragement ensured their children embraced Hindi, keeping alive the language of their country of origin while growing up abroad.
In the adult category alone, 23 participants presented outstanding stories. The results were proudly announced in the presence of Anil Joshi, President of Vaishvik Parivar.
The prize money was sponsored by Ekal Vidyalaya, Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan Australia, Reliance Financial Solutions and MNB.
Reflecting on the event, ILASA’s founder, senior writer and teacher Rekha Rajvanshi, emphasized that such competitions spark children’s interest in Hindi literature while allowing adults to rediscover the joy of storytelling.
Overall, the event stood out as a vibrant initiative, uniting Hindi lovers across the country and igniting fresh enthusiasm for the language. More than a competition, it was a celebration of heritage, identity, and the unbreakable bond between language and culture.
