South African Hindu Maha Sabha seeks teachers for Indian languages
A teacher teaching the Hindi language
Image: File
The South African Hindu Maha Sabha is encouraging vernacular languages and is in search of people who can teach Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Sanskrit.
Indian languages contribute to local festivals, music, food and art. This enriches the multicultural fabric of South Africa.
Professor Brij Maharaj, deputy president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS) said strategies to promote Indian languages were discussed at the recent leadership summit with affiliates hosted by the Maha Sabha.
Maharaj stated that the Maha Sabha is working on two strategies.
"Firstly, as a starting point, the Maha Sabha is embarking on an initiative to identify and develop a database of those who can teach Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Sanskrit.
"After creating a database of teachers, the Maha Sabha, in conjunction and in partnership with the national language bodies, will host a workshop to consider options and strategies to promote the teaching of Indian languages. Online options will be at the top of the agenda," said Maharaj.
He added that the Maha Sabha, in partnership with the national language organisations, was planning to introduce online introductory, conversational courses in Tamil, Hindi, Gujarati, and Telugu.
They will be on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok and viewed on cell phones.
Maharaj said for South Africans of Indian descent, language, culture and religion are inextricably intertwined, and are important markers of identity.
"The dilution of vernacular languages over time and with distance and disconnection from India was inevitable.
"The loss of the vernacular was aided and abetted by the apartheid government, which did its utmost to destroy the cultural and religious artefacts of the Indian community by not only suppressing political freedom but also stifling religious choices in favour of a narrow Calvinist agenda, which was implicitly anti-Hindu and anti-Islam," he said.
Maharaj said through the Group Areas Act, temples, mosques, halls and other cultural institutions were destroyed in areas such as Cato Manor, Riverside and Clairwood.
"As a result of engagement with the Maha Sabha, the democratic government has provided constitutional recognition for Indian languages. Furthermore, as per the South African constitution, freedom of religion and worship is guaranteed, and all faiths are equal, regardless of following.
"However, such constitutional recognition is meaningless unless the state actively supports teaching these languages at the school and university levels. Indian languages were eliminated from the university curriculum at the former University of Durban-Westville about 20 years ago. Also, teaching Indian languages in primary and secondary schools has been downgraded to an after-school, peripheral, extramural activity," he said.
Maharaj said the Maha Sabha recognises organisations like the Andhra Maha Sabha, the Gujarati Hindu Sanskruti Kendra, the SA Tamil Federation, Merebank Tamil School Society and the Hindi Shiksha Sangh who were playing important roles in promoting Indian languages in South Africa.
He said parents must take some responsibility.
Those interested in teaching any Indian language can email the Maha Sabha: admin@sahms.org.za or call (031) 3091951.