Student Achiever: ‘Hindi language can drive any sort of positive hriday parivaratan’

He speaks and enthrals the audience with his stupendous Hindi language skills. Meet Mehul Jain, presently studying in class XII at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park. In a candid interview, he points out why it is imperative to save Hindi’s traditional surroundings

Read edited excerpts here.

Tell us something about your recent achievements in Hindi extempore.

This is the second time I have participated in an extempore event. Last year, in 2023, when I was in class XI I secured third and second position in zonal and district-level competitions respectively. This year I secured first position in both zonal and district levels and now eagerly waiting for the state-level rounds.

How did Apeejay support you in this journey?

The Hindi faculty of the school has always been kind enough to give me these golden opportunities to prove myself. I left Hindi as the main subject after class VIII taking up French with Hindi as a secondary language. However, I was still able to score well in class X Boards in both Hindi and French because of the appropriate guidance by the teachers making me interested more and more in improving my Hindi vocabulary.

Who is your favourite Hindi author and why?

I’m at present, addicted to Hindi poems by Ram Dhari Singh ‘Dinkar’ and Shiv Mangal Singh ‘Suman’. Dinkar’s Rashmirathi is what ignites my passion for language and Indian culture, pursuing me to read and listen more about iconic epics like The Ramayan and The Mahabharat. These poems have been very helpful for me to look at the circumstances from a different point of view.

Who is your inspiration behind pursuing Hindi events?

Listening to another elite personality like Kumar Vishwas, a great orator and poet is the one who made me more interested in improving my vocabulary and participating in Hindi events in public to brush up my skills and get rid of stage fright. When I listen to such great orators using the language in its most magical form to spellbound the listener with their thoughts, I feel inspired to be one amongst them.

Would you like to take this talent up as a profession?

I am currently pursuing PCM and preparing for the JEE exam. But if I get a chance, I do have dreams of transforming my passion for reading, writing and performing into a means of earning, appreciation along with livelihood.

What does the Hindi language mean to you?

Believe me, even 10 years of pure learning is insufficient for understanding a language like Hindi. So Hindi has been more than a language to me, it’s a source of inspiration and pride.

What’s the most challenging part about Hindi writing and speaking?

The most challenging part is that we aren’t reading and learning Hindi in school after class X. With time our vocabulary and grammar knowledge starts depleting. If you aren’t a regular reader it will be difficult for you to participate in such events which require a higher and extraordinary level of Hindi literacy. Moreover, we aren’t able to find time for reading in our busy daily schedule.