Hindi Moment In Guyana’s Parliament: MP Vikash Ramkisoon's Reply To Opposition In Hindi Goes Viral, Watch

At a time when India continues to debate the role of Hindi, the language resonated proudly in Guyana's Parliament, reflecting its enduring global legacy.

Hindi echoed in Guyana's Parliament during the Budget 2026 debate after Minister Vickash Ramkissoon delivered a fluent response in the language to an opposition remark questioning his Hindi skills.

The moment quickly gained attention online, with many praising the minister for confidently switching languages during the parliamentary session.

The exchange has also highlighted the continued cultural and linguistic influence of the Indian-origin community in the South American nation.

Minister responds in Hindi during Parliament debate

The incident took place during Guyana's Budget 2026 parliamentary debate when an opposition member questioned Minister of State for Agriculture Vickash Ramkissoon about his ability to speak Hindi. Responding immediately, Ramkisoon switched to fluent Hindi while addressing the National Assembly.

"Respected sir, whoever thinks I cannot speak in Hindi, I will debate them in Hindi," he said confidently.

He further added, "Main unhe chunauti deta hoon, vishay woh tay karenge aur main abhi bina kagaz ke debate karoonga," challenging critics to debate him in Hindi without notes.

His response drew attention in the House and quickly circulated across social media platforms. The High Commission of India in Georgetown also shared the video clip, writing, "गयाना की संसद में गूंजी हमारी हिंदी" (Our Hindi echoed in Guyana's Parliament). The mission described the minister's reply as a fitting response to the opposition's comment.

Reflection of Indo-Guyanese heritage

The moment has once again brought focus to the strong Indian cultural roots in Guyana. Indo-Guyanese, who form around 40% of the country's population, are descendants of nearly 239,000 Indian indentured labourers who arrived between 1838 and 1917.

Most of these labourers came from regions that are now part of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Over generations, their descendants have preserved aspects of Indian culture, including language, religion and traditions.

While English remains Guyana's official language, Hindi and Bhojpuri continue to be spoken and taught through cultural organisations, religious institutions and family traditions. The use of Hindi in Parliament by a modern-day leader reflects this enduring heritage.

Hindi Moment goes viral online

Clips of Ramkisoon's Hindi speech have been widely shared online, drawing appreciation from viewers in India and the global Indian diaspora. Many users praised his confidence and described the moment as a proud reflection of cultural continuity.

The incident serves as a reminder of the historical links between India and Guyana and how language continues to connect communities across continents, even generations after migration.