Embassies of Lithuania and Ukraine in India extend warm congratulations on the occasion of Hindi Day to all Hindi lovers! 

हिंदी दिवस की हार्दिक  शुभकामनाएं! Happy Hindi Diwas to all Hindi lovers! 

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As India marks Hindi Diwas on September 14, 2024, celebrated annually to honour the adoption of Hindi as one of India's official languages in 1949, H.E. Mrs. Diana Mickevičienė, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of India, and Ms. Olena Ilchuk, third secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of India, expressed their heartfelt congratulations to the Hindi-speaking community by reading the poem "Agnipath" (The Path of Fire) by the prominent Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. 

H.E. Mrs. Mickevičienė expressed her admiration for Hindi, emphasizing the advantage of knowing the language in her role as the Lithuanian Ambassador to India. She also paid tribute to the eminent Hindi poet and writer Harivansh Rai Bachchan, whose poetry continues to inspire people across different continents and different eras as they remain relevant in today's world.  

The poem is very symbolic for modern-day Ukraine.  The nation is going through the fire, both literally and figuratively. Withstanding the unjustified terror of the Russian Federation, Ukrainians embody the core message of the poetry: regardless of the hardships or inequitable forces against the invader, they remain determined in the struggle for what is rightfully theirs and for what they cherish. 

Both countries have institutions where Hindi is taught. In Lithuania, Hindi is studied at the Vilnius University, Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies. In Ukraine, three institutions are offering Hindi studies: the Centre of Hindi Language and Indian Literature at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv National Linguistic University, and Kyiv Gymnasium of Oriental Languages No. 1. The latter is a general secondary school. 

We express our sincere gratitude for the support the Polish Institute New Delhi provided to make this idea a reality. 

#HindiDiwas #HindiDiwas2024 #HindiLanguage #celebratehindi #hindiheritage  #agnipath  

अग्निपथ

वृक्ष हों भले खड़े,
हों घने हों बड़े,
एक पत्र छाँह भी,
माँग मत, माँग मत, माँग मत,
अग्निपथ अग्निपथ अग्निपथ ।

तू न थकेगा कभी, तू न रुकेगा कभी,
तू न मुड़ेगा कभी,
कर शपथ, कर शपथ, कर शपथ,
अग्निपथ अग्निपथ अग्निपथ ।

यह महान दृश्य है,
चल रहा मनुष्य है,
अश्रु श्वेत रक्त से,
लथपथ लथपथ लथपथ,
अग्निपथ अग्निपथ अग्निपथ ।

***

Agnipath (अग्निपथ)

Even if there are mighty trees all around you,
Let them be shady, let them be huge,
But, even for the shade of a single leaf,
Beg not, beg never, ask never!
The path of fire you shall tread! The path of fire! Yes, That Path of Fire!

You shall never tire,
You shall never slow down,
You shall never turn back,
This oath you will take today!
This oath you will fulfill in your life!
Take this oath!
And walk the Path of Fire, every single day!
The oath of fire! Yes, That Path of Fire!

What greater spectacle,
Than to see such a man walk,
Who in tears, sweat and blood,
Is soaked, covered and coated;
And still walks on in the Path of fire!
Walks the path of fire! Yes, That Path of Fire!

 

A poem by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Translated into English by Riku Sayuj.