SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN REMARKS TO WORLD HINDI CONFERENCE, SAYS EVENT CAN

ADVANCE LANGUAGE IN BUILDING WORLD UNDERSTANDING, HARMONY

 

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’ remarks at the World Hindi Conference in New York today, 13 July:

Namaste. Kya haal hai? [Greetings; how are you?]

I am delighted to welcome all of you to the United Nations, and to the eight World Hindi Conference.  In fact, I wish I could speak so eloquently and fluently in Hindi like the Ministers.

The Hindi language is a beautiful language, redolent with the culture and history of the Indian sub-continent.  It is also a complex and nuanced tongue, as I discovered during my very first diplomatic assignment in New Delhi -- when I was working in the Korean Embassy in New Delhi.  In fact, I registered in Maximali Bhavan, studied some Hindi.  Mai Hindi thora, thora bolta houn. [I speak a little bit of Hindi.]

But, unfortunately, many of the words I picked up during that time in India has sadly fallen into disuse.  I very much regret that.  But my appreciation for Hindi and its speakers has not.  As the Minister said, my own son-in-law speaks very fluent Hindi with pride.  I hope soon I will see a joint product between India and Korea! [laughter]

You see how much I have a special attachment to India -- my first assignment was in India; my son was born in India, in New Delhi.  Then, I have given my daughter to an Indian man.  [laughter] I am really looking forward to the joint product in the near future.  I have so many Indian friends.  In fact, Vijay Nambiar, who is my Chief of Staff, I have known him since 1972.  He was my counterpart and he was my boss.  Now, I am his boss.  So, therefore, this is all even now. [laughter]

That is also why I was so excited to learn that so many scholars and enthusiasts of Hindi were gathering at the United Nations.  This is really unique and unprecedented that any Secretary-General of the United Nations may attend this function, but this is because of my special respect and attachment to you.

Your Conference theme -- “Hindi at the World Stage” -- cannot only focus attention on the growing stature of Hindi, and of India, across the world, but also advance Hindi as a language of understanding and harmony.  After all, as India’s national language, Hindi has been building bridges between Indians of different ethnic backgrounds and linguistic traditions since well before independence.  Today it unites not only a vast and varied Indian diaspora, but also Bollywood fans from Ukraine to Uganda and Egypt to England.

So, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of all of my UN colleagues, including many Hindi speakers as well as other fans of Hindi cinema and culture, let me wish you a most successful Conference.

Let me just practise a little bit of my Hindi, which has been rusty, but I’d like to polish up my Hindi.  Mujhe khush ho rahe hai. Main aap sab ko shukur-ne daita houn.  Namaste aur dhanyavaad. [I am happy. I give you all thanks.  Greetings and thank you.]  Thank you very much.

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For information media • not an official record