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Dates: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)

7th PBD Convention in Chennai(India) from 07-09 January 2009

PBD Singapore from 9-12 October 2008

Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward

The 7^th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is scheduled to be held at the Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai from 07-09 January 2009. Organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with the State Government of Tamil Nadu and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), it would be the first PBD Convention organised in Chennai.

PBD Conventions provide a platform for exchange of views and networking to the Persons of Indian Origin settled all over the world on matters of common interest. Such Conventions have helped the Government to better understand the expectations of the Overseas Indian Community from the land of their ancestors and acknowledge the important role played by it In India’s efforts to acquire its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Among the decisions taken by the Government of India as a result of wider consultations held at these Conventions, are formulation of the Overseas Citizenship of India, establishment of Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre, Conceptualisation of PIO University, formation of Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin, and the proposed India Development Foundation. A series of Programmes e.g. Know India Programme and Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children are also designed specifically for Diaspora youth.

Among other things, the 7^th PBD Convention would have sessions on the preservation of Diaspora language and culture and the importance of Diaspora as facilitators and bridge builders. The highlights of PBD 2009 include an Exhibition on Trade & Industry, live demonstrations by craftsmen, cultural evenings and post convention tours.

The Convention would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India on 8^th January. The President of India would deliver the valedictory address and also confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards for 2009 on 9^th January.

Singapore readying for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

SINGAPORE: The stage is being set for the first-ever Asia-Pacific “Indian Diaspora event.”

India’s annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is seen here as a festive conclave with “a global reach.” The ‘PBD Singapore,’ slated to be held for three days from October 9, will be a regional variant. The objective, according to the organisers, is to promote an event with a difference, which will be in tune with the City State’s efforts to remain “an economic hub” in the Asia-Pacific zone.

The prime mover is the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI). While the Confederation of Indian Industry has joined hands with the SICCI, the governments of Singapore and India have extended “full and active support,” according to Sat Pal Khattar, chairman of the ‘PBD Singapore’ steering committee.

Hindi Divas was observed on Sunday, September 14, 2008.

President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave away 45 prizes and awards including the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi National Award for Original Book Writing on Gyan Vigyan, Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Award for Original Book Writing in Hindi and for excellent work done in Hindi in Central Govt. offices.

The President said that the official language can be further promoted when it becomes the language of the common man. Its simplification and the process of give and take vis-à-vis other languages can go a long way in promoting Hindi further. She felt that MNCs and the process of globalization have opened up new avenues of recognition for Hindi language. The writers as well as publishers should make earnest efforts in bringing out excellent and inspiring literature in Hindi. (full text of President’s speech is available on website presidentofindia.nic.in.

The Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil in his remarks said that the Government will never let the plans of anti-national elements succeed and will keep working towards thwarting any attempt to disturb peace. Appropriate action will be taken against those responsible for yesterday’s blasts in Delhi and due support would be provided to those affected, he added.

The Home Minister said that language has always been a unifying force and the Government is promoting all languages. Hindi being the language spoken by majority of Indians and the Rashtra Bhasha, continued efforts have been made to make it simpler and easy to adopt. The launch of new software would help further develop and promote Hindi. He assured all Government support in promotional efforts by the department. Shri Patil felt this language can achieve its higher position only when the respect towards it deep-rooted in our hearts. Shri Patil said that the Government is making efforts for recognition of Hindi as a language of United Nations.

MoS Home, Dr. Shakeel Ahmad in his welcome address said that Government of India is keen to promote Hindi but the objective can be achieved with the support of all those who are working in this field.

The Department of Official Language in the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for policy formulation and implementation as per the provisions of the Constitution in regard to Official Language. It has been the motto to propagate the use of Official Language amongst the employees of the Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, Corporations, Banks etc. through encouragement, persuasion and goodwill.

Three Softwares namely, ‘Vachantar’, ‘e-Mahashabdkosh’, and ‘Mantra were released on the occasion. To modernize the training system and language learning process these Softwares have been developed with the assistance of C-DAC, Pune. These are primarily in the fields of Hindi Teaching through various regional languages, (Lila series) translation from English to Hindi (Mantra) and automating typing out of Hindi dictation/ speech (Shrutlekhan) on the computer. E-Mahashabd Kosh a bilingual, bidirectional dictionary with pronunciation and usages etc. is also being developed by DOL and C-DAC. Continuous efforts are made to improve these language application tools based on the feedback received from the users. Publications brought out by the Department of Official Language are another important instrument in the field of publicity of Official Language..

The State of Crazy Cricketing World at Present

We speak your language to help you learn Hindi language.

In one of the feedbacks at our site HindiLearner.com, the reader wanted to know if we have developed a software in Portuguese for Hindi learning. A few similar queries were received from other regions too.

This prompted us to look for a solution and I found that using Google translate application can help such readers/learners to a large extent. I tested this application on most of the pages of our site and found it to be quite useful.

Now the pages at Hindilearner.com have a Google Translate button in the top-right corner which gives you the option to change the published content in English to the language of your choice - native language. However, the content written in Hindi language remains un-changed.

I hope this makes learning Hindi a lot more easy now.

Do let us know if you find something not translating properly or any other inconsistency, if you come across such errors.

Make use of Google Translate button (top-right corner) to read the content in your own language to learn Hindi.

• A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.
• A jug fills drop by drop.
• All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
• All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.
• All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?
• Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.
• An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.
• An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.
• Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
• Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
• Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.
• Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
• Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.
• Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice, more drunkards than thirst, and perhaps as many suicides as despair.
• Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.
• Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.
• Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
• Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.
• He is able who thinks he is able.
• He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.
• He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.
• Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
• Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
• However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?
• I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.
• I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.
• In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.
• In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
• It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
• It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
• It is better to travel well than to arrive.
• Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.
• Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.
• Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.
• No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
• On life’s journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.
• Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
• Rouse yourself! Sit up!
• Resolutely train yourself to attain peace.
• Do not let the king of death, seeing you are careless,
• lead you astray and dominate you.
• Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.
• The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.
• The mind is everything. What you think you become.
• The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.
• The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.
• The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood.
• The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast.
• The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.
• The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.
• The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve.
• There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
• There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.
• There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.
• Think not lightly of evil, saying, ‘It will not come to me.’ Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the fool, gathering it little by little, fills himself with evil.
• This existence of ours is as transient as Autumn clouds. To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance. A lifetime is a flash of lightning in the sky. Rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain.
• Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.
• Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
• Though all his life a fool associates with a wise man, he no more comprehends the Truth than a spoon tastes the flavour of the soup.
• Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
• To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.
• To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.
• To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
• To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.
• Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two.
• Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.
• We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.
• We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
• We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.
• What is the appropriate behavior for a man or a woman in the midst of this world, where each person is clinging to his piece of debris? What’s the proper salutation between people as they pass each other in this flood?
• What we think, we become.
• Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
• When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.
• Without health life is not life; it is only a state of suffering - an image of death.
• Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
• You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.
• You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.
• You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
• Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.