Theme: The Hindi Language in the 21st Century Global World

CONFERENCE AGENDA

KINDLY NOTE THE CHANGE IN AGENDA:

INAUGURAL EVENT WILL NOT TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 25, AT THE WOOLWORTH BUILDING, 15 BARCLAY ST., NY NY, AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED.

THE INAUGURAL EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON DAY 2, APRIL 26, 9AM AT SILVER CENTER, 100 WASHINGTON SQUARE EAST, NYU, NY NY 10003

APRIL 25th: 6 PM to 9 PM: Welcome Reception at the Consulate General of India, 3 East 64th Street (Between 5th and Madison Avenues), New York, NY 10065.
APRIL 26th: 9 AM Inaugural Event at NYU Hemmerdinger Hall, Silver Center.
APRIL 27th: Conference Venue is NYU Hemmerdinger Hall, Silver Center.

NYU Hemmerdinger Hall, Silver Center
100 Washington Square East,
New York University, New York, NY 10003

For Directions, Go to VENUE PAGE

“The Hindi Language in the 21st Century Global World”

 

DAY 1: April 25, 2014

VENUE: Consulate General of India, 3 East 64th Street, New York

 

6:00-9:00pm -- INAUGURAL RECEPTION & DINNER

 

The programme also includes HINDI PLAY ‘Andhon Ka Haathhi’ by Prayog Hindi Manch, North Brunswick, New Jersey; Written by Late Shri Sharad Joshi, Directed by Shri Ameeya Mehta
 

DAY 2: April 26, 2014

VENUE: New York University, Silver Center, 100 Washington Square East, New York

 

9:00-10:30 am -- INAUGURAL SESSION

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

Sanchalan: Shri Shambhu Amitabh, Vice Consul, Consulate General of India, New York

 

Deep prajjwalan

 

Welcome Remarks: Shri Sugandh Rajaram, Chief Coordinator, International Regional Hindi Conference 2014

 

Welcome Address: Shri Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Consul General of India, New York

 

Inaugural Address: Ambassador Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ambassador of India to the USA

 

Keynote Address: “America’s Vision of Building a Multi-lingual Society: A Golden Period for Hindi” by Dr. Surendra Gambhir, University of Pennsylvania

 

Shubhkamana Sandesh:

Dr. P. Jayaraman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA

Dr. Herman Van Olphen, University of Texas, Austin

Dr. Rupert Snell, University of Texas, Austin

Dr. Michael Shapiro, University of Washington

 

10:30-10:45 am -- TEA BREAK

(Silver Center 101, Silverstein Lounge)

 

10:45 am-12:30 pm -- OPEN SESSION 1: HINDI TEACHING AND LEARNING

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

 

This session offers an overview of the Hindi language teaching and learning in the U.S. at various institutions and organizations. The goal is to assess the achievements so far and to outline the needs of the field for future development.

 

Moderator: Dr. Gabriela Nik. Ilieva, New York University

 

Remarks: Dr. Zvi Ben-Dor Benite, Chair, Department of Middle Eastern Studies, NYU

 

Speakers:

Dr. Rupert Snell, Director, Hindi Urdu Flagship, University of Texas, Austin

“Hindi Teaching and Learning: Where Are We Now?”

 

Dr. Michael Shapiro, Divisional Dean of Humanities, University of Washington

“A Half-Century of Instruction in Hindi in the United States”

 

Smt Betsy Hart, Director, STARTALK, National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland

 

Dr. Scott McGinnis, Defense Language Institute, Washington Office

“Capacity and Structure: An Analysis of the Potential for Promoting Hindi in North America”

 

12:30-1:30 pm -- LUNCH

(Silver Center 101, Silverstein Lounge)

 

1:30-3:15 pm --

ROUND TABLE 1: HINDI AS A HERITAGE LANGUAGE: REALITIES AND POSSIBILITIES

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

 

This session focuses on the description of current opportunities and the articulation of steps needed to maintain and further vitalize Hindi as a heritage language of the Indian Diaspora. Heritage learners share their experiences.

 

Moderator: Shri Ashok Ojha, Yuva Hindi Sansthan

 

Speakers:

Dr. Joy Peyton, Center for Applied linguistics, Washington DC

 

Smt Sushma Malhotra, New York City Department of Education, New York

 

Dr. Vijay Gambhir, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

 

ROUND TABLE 2: NEW INITIATIVES FOR HINDI: REALITIES AND POSSIBILITIES

(Silver Center 101A, Jurow Lecture Hall)

 

This session provides information about current projects and highlights new ideas for further improving the quality of Hindi teaching and learning.

 

Moderator: Dr. Jishnu Shankar, University of Texas, Austin

 

Speakers:

Smt Janis Jensen, School of Global Education and Innovation, Kean University, New Jersey

 

Dr. Gabriela Nik Ilieva, New York University

 

3:15-3:30 pm -- TEA BREAK

(Silver Center 101, Silverstein Lounge)

 

3:30-5:00 pm – OPEN SESSION 2: STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS: GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

 

This session focuses on the varied opportunities for foreign students to learn the Hindi language through immersion in India. The goal is to emphasize the benefits and to highlight the growth in demand for such programs as well as discuss the possibilities for future development, improvement and increased visibility of the study abroad opportunities.

 

Moderator: Dr. Surendra Gambhir, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

 

Speakers:

Dr. Herman Van Olphen, University of Texas, Austin

 

Dr. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Vice Chairman, Central Hindi Institute, New Delhi, India

 

Dr. Philip Lutgendorf, University of Iowa, President, American Institute of Indian Studies

 

5:15-6:30 pm –

ROUND TABLE 3: HINDI IN MASS MEDIA

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

 

This session critically analyzes the use of Hindi in popular media, such as, newspapers, TV channels and movies in India. The session examines and discusses the possibilities and ways for establishing media outlets in Hindi in USA and other parts of America as voices for the Indian Diaspora.

 

Moderator:

Shri Ashok Vyas, Program Director, ITV

 

Speakers:

Shri Leeladhar Mandloi, Director, Bharatiya Jnanpeeth

 

Dr. Vartika Nanda, Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, New Delhi

 

ROUND TABLE 4: PLANNING FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE HINDI ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES AND DESCRIPTORS

(Silver Center 101A, Jurow Lecture Hall)

 

This session is for ACTFL and ILR certified raters, testers and trainers.

 

Moderator:

Dr. Susham Bedi, Columbia University, New York

 

6:30-7:30 pm -- DINNER

(Silver Center 101, Silverstein Lounge)

 

7:30-9:30pm -- KAVI SAMMELAN

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

Sanchalan: Dr. Bijoy Mehta and Dr. Bindeshwari Aggarwal

 

DAY 3: April 27, 2014

VENUE: New York University, Silver Center, 100 Washington Square East

 

9:00-10:00 am -- OPEN SESSION 3: THE NEED OF THE HOUR: A HINDI CENTER IN THE REGION

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

 

This session discusses the need to establish a Hindi Centre in USA with the objective of coordinating various activities for the promotion of the Hindi language and Indian culture in the region. It will serve as a liaison between different agencies and organizations in the U.S. and India.

 

Moderator: Dr. Ved Chaudhary, Educators Society for Heritage of India

 

Speakers:

Dr. Surendra Gambhir, University of Pennsylvania

 

Shri Gangadharsing Gulshan Sooklall, World Hindi Secretariat, Mauritius

 

Dr. Bijoy Mehta, Vishwa Hindi Samiti, New York

 

10:00-10:15 am -- TEA BREAK

(Silver Center 101, Silverstein Lounge)

 

10:15 am-12:30 pm --

ROUND TABLE 5: STATUS OF HINDI LITERATURE: DESH AUR PARDESH

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

 

This session offers an overview of the status of the Hindi literature and how the Hindi literary production, performance and traditions are used to negotiate the identity of the Diaspora communities in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean region.

 

Moderator: Dr. Susham Bedi, Columbia University, New York

 

Speakers:

Pt. Rampersad Parasram, Trinidad and Tobago

Dr. Shailja Saksena, Hindi Writers’ Guild, Toronto, Canada

Dr. Philip Lutgendorf, University of Iowa

 

ROUND TABLE 6: HINDI AND TECHNOLOGY

(Silver Center 101A, Jurow Lecture Hall)

 

This session sheds light on some innovative ways of using technology for the purpose of communication, entertainment and education in Hindi, which contribute to the promotion of the Hindi language.

 

Moderator: Shri Anoop Bhargava, eKavita Group

 

Speakers:

Dr. Jishnu Shankar, University of Texas, Austin

Dr. Gyanam Mahajan, University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Rakesh Ranjan, Columbia University

 

12:30-1:30 pm -- LUNCH

(Silver Center 101, Silverstein Lounge)

 

1:30-3:15 pm --

ROUND TABLE 7: ADVOCACY FOR HINDI: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

 

This session offers a forum for community leaders and activists to share their experience and ideas about creating strategies, opportunities and infrastructure in order to raise the status of Hindi and its prestige among the Indian Diaspora community, government agencies, private organizations, businesses and educational institutions.

 

Moderator: Dr. Bindeshwari Aggarwal, New York University

 

Speakers:

Shri Anup Mahajan, National Capital Language Resource Center

 

Dr. Ved Choudhary, Educators' Society for Heritage of India

 

Shri Ashok Ojha, Yuva Hindi Sansthan

 

Shri Sundeep Bhutoria, Culturist and Social Activist, India

 

ROUND TABLE 8: HINDI IN HIGHER EDUCATION: INNOVATIONS AND FUTURE

(Silver Center 101A, Jurow Lecture Hall)

 

This session offers a forum for university instructors to share projects and programs they currently run and exchange ideas about the needs for future growth and improvement.

 

Moderator: Smt Rajni Bhargava, New York University

 

Speakers:

Dr. Richard Delacy, Harvard University, Cambridge

 

Shri Anand Dwivedi, Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

 

Dr. Shaheen Parveen, Rutgers University, New Jersey

 

3:15-3:30 pm -- TEA BREAK

(Silver Center 101, Silverstein Lounge)

 

3:30-4.30 pm -- CLOSING SESSION

(Silver Center 102, Hemmerdinger Hall)

Sanchalan: Shri Shambhu Amitabh, Vice Consul, Consulate General of India, New York

 

Conference Review: Dr. Gabriela Nik. Ilieva, New York University

 

Remarks by Smt Suniti Sharma, Deputy Secretary (Hindi), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi

 

Pramanpatra Presentation and Group Photo

 

Closing Address: Shri Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Consul General of India, New York

 

Thanking Remarks: Shri Sugandh Rajaram, Chief Coordinator, International Regional Hindi Conference 2014