A septuagenarian popularising Hindi in Nagaland

Dimapur (Nagaland), May 28 (ANI): A man in Nagaland has dedicated his life in popularising Hindi among the local people, as he believes the national language is the only medium by which people from different walks of life can be united or be involved in the mainstream.

Piyongtemjen Jamir has spent over 30 years of his life popularising Hindi, the national language among the Nagas where local dialects is the only mode of communication among people.

At 76, Jamir was awarded the ONE (Our North-East) India Award in Mumbai recently by My Home India, an NGO, for his excellent work in promoting nationalism in Nagaland.

Jamir, who describes Mahatma Gandhi as his inspiration behind learning and spreading Hindi, says that he started a full-fledged Hindi training institute in Dimapur in 1980 against all odds from the society and armed militants. nitially, Jamir met with little success in terms of students (mostly relatives). However, presently, his institute imparts knowledge of Hindi to around 200 students.

Jamir has earned a place in Hindi literature in his State and is one of the first Nagas to hold graduate degree in Hindi language. is journey of teaching Hindi begins in 1970 as a Hindi teacher in Government High school Chisor under Tuensang District. He served also as an instructor at JTTI.

From 1976-1982, he also served as instructor at the Central Hindi Training Institute in Dimapur.

In 1988, he re-established the Rashtra Bhasha Hindi Trainning Institute at Dimapur from Pradambik-Ratna.

He also established Branches of Hindi Training center at Ungma Village and Mokokchung Town under Mokokchung District, Kohima district, Tuensang Town, Longleng Town, Wokha Town and also at Aboi Town under Mon district.

Moreover, Jamir also wrote and published a Hindi booklet-"Hamari Hindi" comprising of two parts in Hindi, Ao, Sangtam and Phom languages. He is also a member of the World Hind Samiti.

The list of Jamir's awards and recognitions include Gangashanan Singh Awards by Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the then President of India, Bhaurao Devras Seva Samman Awrad by Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur, District Teachers Award in Dimapur, Nagaland. By Peter Chachei (ANI)