Students during previous year’s classes at the Phoenix Hindi Patshala
Image: SUPPLIED
Anusha Chandika Persad was fifty-two years old when she started learning Hindi. Now at sixty-two, she is a teacher at the Phoenix Hindi Patshala (PHP).
"I wanted to become Hindi literate so that I would be able to read and understand our scriptures and watch Bollywood movies without subtitles," she said. "With the help of the kind-hearted and dedicated teachers at PHP, I completed my junior grades and am currently doing my matric year."
Persad is among many who have nurtured a love for the Hindi language through the Phoenix Hindi Patshala, which has just relaunched in-person teaching after adapting to online classes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Established in 2010, the classes have been extremely successful with residents of Phoenix. From just six students and three grades, the non-profit Hindi school has seen more than 130 students pass through its doors.
One such past student, Zayne Khan, began classes in 2010 "with absolutely no knowledge of the Hindi language".
"I took the classes firstly because I was at home with nothing to do and secondly I wanted to embrace my mum's culture," Khan said. "Apart from watching movies with subtitles, I was completely lost. I was initially petrified of embarrassing myself but the teachers were incredibly warm and easy to get along with. They were very encouraging and surprisingly good at making the lessons fun and engaging."
Within a very short time, Khan found a new passion for the language. He not only completed the six grades available at the time at the Patshala but went all the way to the higher grades offered by the Hindi Shiksha Sangh.
"Today I'm not only the current secretary of PHP but also a teacher. I also hold an academic position at the HSS and on the board," he said.
Affiliated to the Hindi Shiksha Sangh of SA (HSSSA), the main purpose of the school is to teach, promote and uphold Hindi for all age groups.
Co-ordinator and teacher Nishi Pithamber explained the deeper significance.
"Hindi holds deep historical, cultural and religious significance for many Indians whose ancestors arrived from India over 160 years ago," Pithamber said. "Hindi strengthens cultural identity as students gain a strong connection to their heritage. Understanding Hindi allows them to engage more meaningfully in cultural and religious ceremonies and to communicate with elders better."
She added that there are practical benefits too.
"Learning Hindi and writing the government NSC exams enhances students' overall academic performance and boosts confidence. Proficiency in Hindi provides unique professional advantages in tourism, media and international business relations."
Structured Hindi classes, from Prathma to Pravesh, are offered focusing on reading, writing, speaking and comprehension for all age groups.
Classes will be held at Earlington Secondary School, 30 Earlcroft Close, Longcroft, every Thursday from 6pm to 7.30pm. Registration takes place on 12 March 2026 at 5.30pm.
For more information, contact Nishi Pithamber on 072 369 4637 or Anusha Chandika Persad on 084 216 2166.