It all started with my six-year-old daughter Aastha coming back from school and running to me- “Mumma, the teacher wants me to write a poem in Hindi and I don’t know where to start”. As someone with strong Hindi-speaking roots, I was puzzled. How do I motivate my daughter to write poetry in Hindi, in an environment largely dominated by English in school and otherwise?
We sat together and talked. “What do you love the most”, I asked? She replied- balloons. I probed further – “And, what are your favourite balloon colours”? Let’s start with that…
And, thus our journey began. Hi! I am Minu and my poems are a gift to all the children and parents who would like to start learning Hindi with kids in a fun and easy manner.
I have always expressed my thoughts through my poems- whether it’s a friend’s anniversary or a nephew’s birthday. My way of expressing my wishes has always been through little notes of verses. Those were remembered and appreciated greatly by family and friends. That inspired me to continue writing more.
A great amount of credit for my poetic journey also goes to my little grandchildren. Their imagination and creative expressions have inspired me to write more. In our senior citizens chat group, many of my friends regret the fact that their grandchildren do not converse in Hindi, making it difficult for them to bond with them as they have limited fluency in English.
My take is that it is so important for both the grandchildren and the grandparents to share a mutual bond of love and care and if language is causing a divide, it is time to take a lead and let the communication flow.
Teaching them young and learning Hindi with poems is a great way to break the ice.
Let’s take tiny steps and you will be surprised at the wealth of difference it is going to make both emotionally and intellectually.
Take the lead and nurture your child’s interest in Hindi poetry with patience and support. You can help your daughter develop a deeper appreciation for her native language and cultivate her talents as a poet.
Happy learning!
