Accomplishments

Founded in 1980, IHA has navigated many ups and downs and the typical challenges of a volunteer organisation; today it stands as a mature, vibrant institution. The following is a decade-by-decade overview.

The 1980s

The 1980s were the years of infancy. The Samiti kept its quarterly magazine Vishwa alive — sometimes hand-written, sometimes printed in slim editions. Kavi-sammelans were held in different cities to draw the wider Hindi-speaking community to the Samiti. One such kavi-sammelan was presided over by Honorable Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Maryland. It was the dedication and tireless effort of the early volunteers that allowed this small sapling to spread its roots across many states of the United States. Independent Hindi-teaching efforts in various cities also affiliated with the Samiti. During this decade a legal framework was put in place, the constitution was drafted and accepted, and the US government granted IHA non-profit status. These foundational steps were essential for the Samiti's growth.

The 1990s

The 1990s were a pivotal decade. Through large kavi-sammelans, Hindi-teaching programmes and regular conventions, the Samiti emerged as the beloved institution of Hindi enthusiasts across North America. Almost every year, famous poets from India were invited and successful kavi-sammelans were held simultaneously across dozens of US cities — in some years twice annually. This work continues to this day and grows more popular with time. It is the result of the Samiti's popularity, its core strength, and the relentless effort of its volunteers. Beyond modern Indian poets, the likes of Kaka Hathrasi, Neeraj, Dr. Brajendra Awasthi, Som Thakur, Dr. Kunwar Bechain, and Hullad Muradabadi delighted the Hindi-speaking community in the US with their poetry.

The Samiti's conventions were extremely successful in spreading its message. Conventions were held regularly in the 1990s — Washington 1991, Rochester 1992, Washington 1993, Houston 1994, Syracuse 1995, Cleveland 1996, New Jersey 1997, and later Boston 2000 and Dallas 2003 — connecting hundreds of new associates to the Samiti and its mission. The Samiti has been fortunate to receive blessings and good wishes from members of parliament, ministers and diplomats of both India and the United States. Several US governors, representatives of the Government of India and state governments offered their support, and several political figures honoured the Samiti as guests — for example, the late Shri Narendra Mohan, editor of Dainik Jagran and Rajya Sabha MP, at Rochester 1992, and the well-known actor (later India's Shipping Minister) Shri Shatrughna Sinha at New Jersey 1997. At Boston 2000, the actor Shri Vinod Khanna, the Bihar Legislative Assembly's leader of opposition Shri Sushil Kumar Modi, and US Congressman McGovern all attended and warmly appreciated the Samiti's work — the first occasion when parliamentarians from India and the US together championed Hindi from a single stage. MP Shri Kalraj Mishra graced the 13th convention at Dallas in 2003, and MP Shri Uday Pratap Singh was special guest poet at the 2005 kavi-sammelan.

Hindi teaching also took several new initiatives this decade. Inspired by the Samiti, local volunteers opened new Hindi schools in many cities, with the effort spreading from Massachusetts in the east to Arizona in the west. In some states — New Jersey, Rhode Island, and others — this effort took off with great enthusiasm. As a result of the Samiti's strength, Hindi schools that were nearly defunct found new awareness, new volunteers and a fresh lease of life. One former Director developed a book and CD curriculum based on his teaching at the Danbury, Connecticut, Hindi school; another former Director developed a CD-and-book curriculum based on Hindi teaching at Bellaire High School in Houston — both useful as standard curricula in schools and Sunday schools. Contact was established with the Government of India and other institutions on Hindi-education matters. What is needed now is to deepen this awareness so that Hindi can be accepted as a second language in US high schools.

Alongside outreach, the Samiti developed its website www.hindi.org in this decade, where one can see a glimpse of its activities. The magazine Vishwa grew in size and aesthetic sophistication, and was enriched in literary content; many universities subscribed to it. A quarterly electronic edition, e-Vishwa, was launched, distributed free worldwide via email. The Samiti's active presence elevated its reputation in India and abroad, and membership grew. As a result of this strength and commitment to Hindi, the Hindi Sahitya Sabha, Toronto, lent its literary support to the Samiti, and a section of Vishwa appeared regularly for some years as the Sabha's voice. Several radio and television programmes in India and the US featured the Samiti. The Samiti also produced Kavitanjali, a weekly radio magazine broadcast from Dallas and streamed worldwide on the internet. With these positive steps, the Samiti emerged as a strong institution. Many initiatives lie ahead in service of Hindi in America and the world — and with the learning and successes of the past, the Samiti will surely meet this responsibility.