CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: “‘Vishwarang’ in Mauritius: A Deliberation on Hindi and Indian Cultural Influence with 35 Countries” Asia’s largest cultural festival, ‘Vishwarang,’ which is bathed in the rainbow hues of literature, culture, and art, is soon set to complete its sixth edition in Mauritius. On August 7, 8, and 9, more than thirty-five countries, including India, will gather on the global stage to celebrate Hindi. The event will be primarily hosted by the World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius, in collaboration with Rabindranath Tagore University, Bhopal, and its associated institutions.
The President of the Republic of Mauritius, Prithviraj Singh Roopun, Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Deputy Prime Minister Leela Devi Dookun, Secretary-General of the World Hindi Secretariat, Dr. Madhuri Ramdharie, former President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, and Mauritius High Commissioner Nandini K. Singla, along with dignitaries from participating countries, have been invited to witness the three-day multi-colored activities. During this event, a seven-foot-tall statue of Tagore will be unveiled at the open-air campus of the Rabindranath Tagore Institute in Mauritius, courtesy of ‘Vishwarang.’ Notably, ‘Vishwarang’ is the first and unique festival ever conducted by a private university globally.
This information was shared by Santosh Choubey, Director of ‘Vishwarang,’ Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University, and a literary and cultural activist, during a press conference. He stated that ‘Vishwarang,’ which began in 2019 with the proclamation of Indian culture on a global stage, is taking a significant step towards global expansion in its sixth edition. Choubey noted that holding this festival in Mauritius will create a new platform for promoting the spread, prosperity, and creative skills associated with Hindi. The participation of representatives from nearly thirty countries across America, Australia, Africa, and Asia will undoubtedly play a crucial role in achieving Hindi-centered goals.
Co-directors of ‘Vishwarang,’ Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, Dr. Aditi Chaturvedi Vats, Mukesh Verma, President of Vanmali Srijan Peeth, members of the organizing committee Balram Gumasta, Jawahar Karnawat, Coordinator of the Indian Diaspora Literature and Culture Research Center, and Vinay Upadhyay, Director of the Tagore World Art and Culture Center, also addressed the press conference. A multi-colored poster focused on ‘Vishwarang 2024’ was also released.
The activities of ‘Vishwarang’ will take place at the World Hindi Secretariat, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, and Rabindranath Tagore Institute on the island of Mauritius. Choubey informed media representatives that the festival is coordinated through thought sessions, cultural assemblies, and workshops. He added that the International Hindi Center and Indian Diaspora Literature and Culture Research Center established under Rabindranath Tagore University are preparing the world’s first Hindi report on 64 countries and books on Hindi literary creativity from 11 countries. Various books and special editions of journals published by Vanmali Srijan Peeth, Tagore World Art and Culture Center, and I-Sect Publication will also be launched.
He said that ‘Vishwarang’ aims to connect the multi-dimensional creative world of art, literature, and culture with concerns and create a vibrant environment for human life through various means of expression.
Intellectual Sessions on Diaspora History and Culture
On August 7, the intellectual sessions will include a dialogue with former diplomat and renowned author Dr. Pavan Varma on “Indentured Labor History: Struggle and Construction,” and an address by Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, former President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, on the role of the council in the expansion of Indian culture and languages.
Dialogue on Various Dimensions of Hindi
On the second and third days, parallel sessions will focus on discussions related to Hindi, literature, and its global expansion. Scholars and literary figures from India and abroad will address topics such as “Various Dimensions of Bhojpuri Language and Literature,” “Hindi in Countries Around the World: Status and Prospects (in the Context of New Generations),” “Scientific Writing in Hindi: Challenges and Opportunities,” “Global Awareness and Literature of Hindi,” “Global Spread of Hindi and Mass Media,” “Innovations in Hindi Teaching and Technology in Global Context,” “Hindi Films and Global Hindi Promotion,” “New Expressions in World Hindi Literature,” “Achievements of Hindi through Vishwarang,” “Translation in Hindi at Global Level: Opportunities and Challenges,” “Hindi in the World: Medium and Standardization (with Special Reference to Devanagari Script),” “Artificial Intelligence: Hindi and Future Challenges,” among others. Participants include Devendra Mewadi (India), Manish Mohan Gore, Mohan Sagoria, Krishna Kumar Mishra (India), Dr. Nandkishore Acharya (India), Badri Narayan, Alpana Mishra (India), Alka Dhanpat (Mauritius), Dr. Sanjita Verma (Nepal), Dr. V. Venkateshwar Rao (India), and Amitabh Saxena (India).
International Poetry Reading
On the first day, an international poetry reading will feature Santosh Choubey, Balram Gumasta, Nilesh Raghuvanshi, Badri Narayan, Leeladhar Mandloi, Savita Bhargav (India), Dr. Hemraj Sundar (Mauritius), Dr. Veer Singh Jaga (Mauritius), and Vinita Tiwari (USA). An international creative reading will include creators like Anju Gharbaran (Mauritius), Jai Verma (UK), Sarika Jaitlia (Indonesia), Mamta Tiwari (Bahrain), Ishita Yadav (Nigeria), Anju Purohit (Malaysia), Padmesh Gupta (UK), and Dr. Vinita Choubey (India). An international storytelling session will see participation from Santosh Choubey, Akhilesh, Ashutosh, Jamuna Beeni (India), Dr. Veer Singh Jaga (Mauritius), Divya Mathur (UK), and Kalpana Lalji (Mauritius). Ashok Bhumik will deliver a lecture on Tagore’s visual arts.