The IABBV Hindi School celebrated its 37th anniversary in a dazzling spectacle of young talent. Language learning has never been more fun. The school specializes in teaching Hindi from Kindergarten to HSC levels as well as adult classes.
The school has over 225 students and an enthusiastic and creative army of teachers, who spend Sunday mornings each week at their beloved Hindi School. Classes are run every Sunday morning at Thornleigh West Public School and after school Monday to Friday at Epping Public School, Hornsby South PS, Epping West PS, John Purchase Public School, Carlingford PS and Chatswood PS. We also provide online delivery of Hindi lessons so that distance does not impact those who are unable to come to any of the centers for Hindi.
Yoga, Bollywood Dancing, Music, Art, are all woven into the school’s curriculum. “Keeping language and culture alive has been important for immigrants to Australia and 37 years ago, a few of us mothers got together and started the Hindi school so our children could stay connected to our language” says the principal, and indomitable leader with a grand vision, Mala Mehta OAM.
“Now it has grown from strength to strength, and we have an entire family of dedicated & outstanding teachers, parents and volunteers who give generously to nurture our young Indo-Australian children.” Many young students return as adults to support the school.
The annual Hindi Divas or Hindi Day was commemorated at the Thornleigh West Public School Hall on Sunday 08 September 2024. Children of the Hindi School showcased their marvelous talent through singing, dancing and Hindi poetry recitation.
The event included an exhibition of – Mahatma Gandhi “My life is My Message” as well as how learning a language can be an enjoyable experience, and as part of the Stage 1 Special Project they showcased the outcomes of “What pet/animal do you want to be? Keeping pets and animals!” Students had gathered information about pets/animals in parts of India through teacher narratives, Indian mythology, and children’s stories and compared it to pets/animals in Australia, how animals have played a central part in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and spiritual beliefs for over 50,000 years.
Acknowledgement to country was given by Mrs Shobha Sharma (in Hindi) and Dr Peter Kirkwood OAM JP (in English).
The occasion was graced by numerous dignitaries, such as the Honorable Mark Buttigieg, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Work Health and Safety, Industrial Relations and Multiculturalism, who represented Minister Kamper. The Consul General of India Dr S Janakiraman graced the occasion, as did Ms Julia Finn MP, Member for Granville, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, and Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts, Charishma Kalyanand MP, Member for Liverpool, Parliamentary Secretary for Customer Service and Digital Government, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services, and Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Justice, Mr Julian Leeser MP, Member for Berowra, Deputy Chair of Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport, The Hon. Damien Tudehope MLC, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shadow Treasurer, and Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr Alister HENSKENS, MP, Member for Wahroonga, Shadow Attorney General, and Shadow Special Minister of State, The Hon. Susan Carter MLC, Shadow Assistant Attorney General, Cr Nathan Tilbury Deputy Mayor, representing Hon Cr Philip Ruddock AO, Mayor Hornsby Shire Council, Councillor Sallianne McClelland, Hornsby Shire Council, Councillor Simon Lennon, Ku Ring Gai Council, James Wallace, Member Elect Hornsby, Lyndall Franks, Community Languages Schools Program Coordinator, Community Languages and International Programs and Student Support and Specialist Programs, Lucia Johns, President of the NSW Federation of Community Languages, Merryl Wahlin, Director SICLE, Mr Peter Kirkwood OAM JP, President PCYC & Board Member Women’s Shed Hornsby Ku-ring-gai, Shobha Sharma, Women, Family and Community Safety I Strategy, Policy and Commissioning, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, and Mr Devendra Gupta, President Ekal Vidyalaya, Mr Sanjeev Malhotra, President, Australia-India Women’s Cricket Association (AIWCA), Rajan & Mala Luthra & Pawan & Rajni Luthra, Indian Link Media Group – Sponsors of the IABBV Hindi School & Vimla Luthra Memorial Hindi Poetry Recitation Competition and various community leaders, teachers and parents.
We extend our deep gratitude to Multicultural NSW, Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre, Consulate General of India, Sydney, Indian Link Media Group, Australian Hindi Indian Association, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Multiconnexions, Project Vision, Urban Tadka, AASHA, CVFR Travel Sydney for supporting this event with sponsorships.
