MoU signed to teach Hindi language in GUST

Under the terms of the agreement, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations will appoint an expert Indian academician to teach Hindi for a period of up to three years at Gulf University for Science and Technology.

• Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 600 million speakers, making it the third most spoken language globally.

• The Gulf University for Science and Technology will host a Chair of Indian Studies, which will focus on teaching the Hindi language and conducting research related to Kuwaiti-Indian relations, said Prof. Bassam Alameddine, President of GUST.

The Times Kuwait Report

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) in Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday to establish ICCR’s Chair of Indian Studies for teaching Hindi at GUST.

His Excellency Dr. Adarsh Swaika, Ambassador of India to Kuwait, signed the MoU on behalf of ICCR, alongside Prof. Bassam Alameddine, President of GUST.

Under the terms of the agreement, ICCR, in consultation with GUST, will appoint an expert Indian academician to teach Hindi for a period of up to three years at GUST.

Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 600 million speakers, making it the third most spoken language globally. Its influence extends beyond India, as it is spoken by large Indian diasporas in countries such as Mauritius, Fiji, Nepal, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Recognizing Hindi’s cultural significance and contribution to global multilingualism, the United Nations (UN) launched Hindi social media accounts on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram, as well as a Hindi website for UN News in 2018. A similar Chair was recently established in Oman in December 2023, marking the first of its kind in the Gulf region.

This is ICCR’s first-ever Chair of Indian Studies in Kuwait and represents a significant step in promoting the Hindi language and India-related studies in the country. Additionally, a weekly Hindi radio broadcast was launched on Kuwait National Radio in April 2024. These initiatives underscore the growing importance of the Hindi language in Kuwait and acknowledge the contributions of the large and vibrant Indian diaspora in the country.

Prof. Bassam Alameddine, the President of the Gulf University for Science and Technology, emphasized that the relationship between Kuwait and India is historic, rooted in commercial and cultural exchanges. He noted that the Gulf University is eager to strengthen cultural ties between the two friendly nations.

In a statement to The Times Kuwait, he added that the university will host a Chair of Indian Studies, which will focus on teaching the Hindi language and conducting research related to Kuwaiti-Indian relations.

Prof. Bassam Alameddine also stated that this initiative will help students learn Hindi, explaining that there is interest from both current students and previous generations in acquiring the language.

He pointed out that this is only the first step in our relations with the Indian Embassy in Kuwait, adding that the next phase will involve further partnerships across various sectors, particularly the industrial sector, with a focus on information technology and computing.

He explained that the next step in this agreement will involve collaborations with world-renowned factories and institutions to provide university students with practical training in technical skills.

“Our goal is to bring younger generations of India and Kuwait closer together” H.E. Adarsh Swaika

His Excellency Dr. Adarsh Swaika, Ambassador of India to Kuwait, said the ICCR-GUST agreement is a significant step in cultural interactions between the two countries.

While speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ICCR-GUST agreement, H.E. Dr. Adarsh Swaika, Ambassador of India to Kuwait, discussed the advantages of the memorandum and emphasized how this initiative will benefit both parties involved.

Could you tell us how you think the memorandum of understanding between the ICCR and GUST will be beneficial for both parties involved?

H. E. Dr. Adarsh Swaika: I would say this is a significant step in our cultural interactions. Hindi, as you know, is the third most widely spoken language in the world. Starting a Hindi language course at GUST University is an important initiative to popularize the language in Kuwait. You may also be aware that Kuwait National Radio recently launched a Hindi language program, which is broadcast every Sunday on the Kuwait Radio FM channel.

I am confident that once we have a visiting professor from India at GUST, we will be able to expand from short learning modules to potentially offering degree programs in the future. We appreciate GUST University for accepting this proposal and supporting this initiative.

Have you discussed the possibility of student exchanges between our institutions? For instance, could students from your university in India come here, and vice versa?

Ambassador Swaika: That’s a good point. We have been in touch with most universities in Kuwait, and you may have noticed that we have established India Corners in the libraries of several prominent institutions, including Kuwait Technical College, Kuwait College of Science and Technology, and soon at Kuwait University. Our goal is to bring the younger generations of both countries closer together.

Historically, we have had strong people-to-people linkages, with the older generation of Kuwait having cherished memories of their visits to India. We aim to replicate this connection with the younger generation as well. In the next couple of months, we will also be hosting a youth delegation from India to Kuwait and other Gulf countries.

We want to encourage youth exchanges and are exploring ways to enhance interactions between universities. We are also working on facilitating more Kuwaiti students studying in India. To support this, we are collaborating with the National Board of Quality Assurance to ensure that Indian universities are recognized, so Kuwaiti students can be confident that their courses will be recognized when they study in India. This is a significant effort on our part to increase youth exchanges, particularly at the university level.