Important Milestones for the Hindi Society and Hindi Centres
1988
Shriniwas Rai and Kailash Nath Rai gather materials for the National Ideology and mother tongue. These findings are passed on to the Singapore North Indian Hindu Association.
25th December
The North Indian Hindu Association forms a Hindi Pro-Tem Committee with Sivakant Tiwari as the Chairman. This committee comprises members from the Arya Samaj Singapore, North Indian Hindu Association, and Shree Lakshminarayan Mandir.
1989
Members of other north Indian organizations like Singapore Gujarati Society and Sindhi Merchants Association are invited to join in. Among the strong advocates during these early days are the late Shri Chandra Shekhar Singh, Shri Shriniwas Rai, Shri Sivakant Tiwari, Shri Kailash Nath Rai and Shri Ram Kawal Rai. The Singapore North Indian Association and Shree Lakshminarayan Mandir also provide strong support and contributions.
6th October
Following an approach to the Government, Minister of Education Dr Tony Tan announces in Parliament that 5 minority Indian languages can now be offered as a second language in Secondary Schools.
1990
21st January
The Hindi Centre formally opens with 70 students at Beng Wan Primary School. These classes are for students from Secondary 1 to Secondary 4.
4th August
The Hindi Society (Singapore) is formally registered.
5th August
The Hindi Centre at Beng Wan Primary school is formally inaugurated.
August
Pre-University and Primary classes are launched at a ceremony with Mr. Er Kwong Wah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, as Guest of Honour.
1991
24th March
The first Hindi Centre Prize-Giving Day is celebrated at Victoria Secondary School with Mr. Sidek Saniff, Parliamentary Secretary (Education), as Guest of Honour.
10th May
Shri Yogesh Mohan Tiwari, the High Commissioner for India in Singapore, visits the Hindi Centre.
10th May
Visit by Manik Govind Chatturvedi of Central Hindi Institute, New Delhi, India.
1992
23rd May
First Hindi Centres Day celebrated on a grand scale at World Trade Centre. Encik Abdullah Tarmugi, Deputy Speaker and MP for Bedok GRC (Siglap), are the Guest of Honour.
Pre-primary Hindi classes start at Hindi Centres.
1993
4th April
Shrimati Shabana Azami and Shri Firoj Khan visit the Hindi Centres.
4th July
A joint seminar between Hindi Society and SINDA is held at Beng Wan Primary School. Present are Mr J Y Pillay, President SINDA, Mr S Iswaran, CEO SINDA, and many other distinguished guests like Urmila Babu, Dr Kalayani Mehta and Shrimati Radhika Sriniwasan. The topic of the seminar is "Communication Within the Family".
29th August
Shri Swami Jayadevananda of Shri Ramakrishna Mission Singapore visits the Hindi Centres.
Shri Swami Mahamandleshwar and Shri Triyugi Nath Misra visits the Hindi Centres.
1994
15th May
Hindi Centres Day & Concert celebrated at Victoria Theatre with Mr J Y Pillay, President SINDA and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Development, as Guest of Honour.
22nd May
Mr Er Kwong Wah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Singapore visits the Hindi Centres.
Hindi can now be offered at PSLE.
4th September
Mr M P Kanisan, CEO SINDA, visits the Hindi Centres.
1995
The Government of India and the High Commissioner for India, Mr B M C Nayar, donate a set of reference books to the Hindi Centres.
Hindi Centres Day & Concert celebrated with Dr S Vasoo, Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar, as Guest of Honour.
1996
30th June
Associate Prof Ho Peng Kee, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Law and Home Affairs, Singapore, is the Guest of Honour for Hindi Centres Day 1996.
30th September
The High Commissioner of India in Singapore, Shri Prem Singh, visits the Hindi Centres.
1997
28th June
Mr Mohamad Maidin B P M, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education, is the Guest of Honour at the Hindi Centres Day.
26th October
CEO SINDA, Mr Vandesan Soma, visits the Hindi Centres on the occasion of Deepavali Celebrations.
1998
22nd July
Dr Aline Wong, Senior Minister of State for Health and Education, officiates as Guest of Honour on the occasion of the Launch of Hindi Teaching Materials and Hindi Centres Day.
1999
Dignitaries like Shri V R Nathan, Shri Inderjit Singh, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, and S Vivakananda, CEO SINDA visit the Hindi Centres.
2000
23rd July
Hindi Centres Day celebrated at Kallang Theatre with Prof Tommy Koh Thong Bee, Ambassador-at-Large, as the Guest of Honour. The Hindi Centre uniform is launched on the same day.
27th August
Shri Swami Maha Mandleshwar Swami Shivendrapuri visits the Hindi Centres.
For the first time, combined year-end examinations are held at all levels for all Non-Tamil Indian Languages.
The Parallel Hindi Programme (PHP) is started at 5 schools.
The monitoring of teachers starts with 2 full-time teachers.
2001
31st March
The Hindi Centres participate in the Indian Cultural Festival organized by the People's Association's Indian Cultural Activity Group at Ngee Ann City. Our exhibits are visited by the Deputy Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament.
The Hindi Society launches its website: www.hindisociety.com.
12th April
The Hindi Centres participate in the Hindu Endowment Board's New Year Celebrations at Birch open ground. The Hindi Centres contribute an evening of North Indian cultural entertainment.
21st July
Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, Mayor, Central Singapore District, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, is the Guest of Honour at Hindi Centres Day 2001.
The Hindi Centre uniform comprising Khadi-texture kurta, pants, kameez, salwar and dupata is introduced.
5th August
Smt Asha Bhonsle and Shri P P Shukla, High Commissioner for India in Singapore, visit the Hindi Centres.
18th October
The Minority Language group submits a comprehensive memorandum to the Minister of Education for commonality of standards among minority Indian languages and recognition of examination marks at critical levels.
Shri Dr Bai Lakshmi Prasad of Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh, visits the Hindi Centres.
2002
30th June
Dr & Mrs Balaji Sadasivan, Minister of State, Health & Environment, Singapore, are the Guest of Honour for Hindi Centres Day 2002.
More than 30 of our students participate in the National Day Parade.
2003
16th March
Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office, and Ministry of Community Development and Sports, visits the Hindi Centres on the occasion of the Holi Celebrations.
