국제 힌디어 학술대회 서울 2014 결과보고 / Report on the IHC Seoul 2014

한국외국어대학교 인도어과는 인도 정부의 후원을 받아 지난 13-15일 글로벌캠퍼스 우덕홀에서 ‘국제 힌디어 학술대회 서울 2014’(international Hindi Conference Seoul 2014)를 성황리에 개최했다.

임근동 한국외대 인도연구소 소장의 사회로 진행된 개회식에는 김우조 한국외대 인도어과 교수의개회사, 김인철 한국외대 총장의 환영사, 비슈누 프라카쉬(Vishnu Prakash) 주한인도대사의 축사와 더불어 이번 학술대회에 참가한 인도, 중국, 일본, 호주 학자들과 인도정부로부터 힌디어 교육에 이바지한 업적을 인정받아 공로상을 수상한 이정호 한국외대 인도어과 명예교수의 기조연설이 이어졌다.

‘21세기 아시아-태평양 지역에서의 힌디어 교육’(Hindi Education in the 21st Century: The Asian-Pacific Context)이라는 기획주제로 진행된 이번 학술대회에서는 힌디어 교육의 실례와 적용, 힌디어의 특성과 발전, 고전과 번역, 글로벌/디지털 시대의 힌디어 교육, 인도어 교육의 현실과 미래 목표 설정 등에 대해 국내외 학자들의 열띤 주제 발표와 토론이 진행됐다.

이번 학술대회의 조직위원장인 김우조 한국외대 인도어과 교수는 “금년 학술대회를 통해 인도와 아시아태평양지역 대학의 힌디어 학자들 간의 학술적 교류를 국제적 수준으로 활성화하는 계기를 만들고 더 나아가 금번 행사가 정례화 되기를 기대한다”고 밝혔다.

인도의 주요 공용어인 힌디어는 영어와 중국어에 이어 세계에서 세 번째로 많은 사람들이 사용하는 언어다. 힌디어의 국제적 중요성을 이미 오래 전 인식한 미국은 힌디어를 주요 국제 전략어로 채택하고 있으며, 인도 정부는 2007년부터 힌디어의 UN 공용어 채택을 위해 부단한 노력을 기울이고 있다.

First of all, we would like to thank the Ministry of External Affairs, India, for the generous support that made this conference possible, as well as the assistance of the Indian Embassy, Seoul, throughout the preparation of the affair. As General Chair of the Organizing Committee, I will briefly discuss the development of the conference and the events of the conference itself. The original binders will be sent to the Indian Embassy, Seoul, with copies kept in the Department of Hindi, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), Seoul.

Opening Ceremony



The Opening Ceremony was held at Wooduk Hall, Global Campus, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Professor Lim Geun-dong of the Department of Indian Studies, President of the Korean Society for Indian Studies and Director of the Institute of Indian Studies, HUFS, as well as former General Secretary of the International Hindi Conference 2007, acted as moderator. Following the lighting of the lamps, Welcoming Remarks were given by Dr. Kim In Chul, President of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Dr. Kim emphasized the role of individuals in communication between cultures, as such personal connections ultimately lead to a collective understanding of another culture.

His Excellency Mr. Vishnu Prakash gave the Inaugural Address for the Conference, in which he pointed out the role and importance of Hindi, and commended the role of the Departments of Hindi and Indian Studies of HUFS in Hindi Education in Korea. His speech was followed by Professor Emeritus of the Department of Hindi, HUFS, Lee Jeong-ho, who was the recipient of the Hindi Sevi Samman 2011, one of the most prestigious prizes for foreigners who have been active in the education of Hindi. Professor Lee reminisced on his studies in India as well as the changes in Hindi education in Korea.

Representatives of each country participating in the conference gave short congratulatory remarks: Professor Vibhuti Narain Rai, Former Vice-Chancellor of the Hindi International University, Wardha; Professor Peter Friedlander, Australian National University, Professor Hideaki Ishida, Daito Bunka University Japan, each congratulated and wished the success of the conference.

Apart from the presenters, several guests were present: including Smt Suniti Sharma, Deputy Secretary of the Hindi Department, Ministry of External Affairs, India; Professor Bohwa Lee, Vice President of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; Professor Haengjeong Suh, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Hindi, HUFS; Ms. Neeharika Singh, Director of Indian Cultural Center, Seoul, were a few. Throughout the ceremony Wooduk Hall, with a seating capacity of 230 persons, was filled with guests, professors, and students.

The Opening Ceremony was concluded with a dance performance of Mr. Dinendra Tiwari, Dance specialist of the Indian Cultural Center, Seoul, and a performance of traditional Korean instruments by ‘Han-url’, a student group of the Department of Hindi, HUFS.

The Opening Ceremony was followed by a Grand Lunch, attended by all presenters and participants at the ceremony. A performance of traditional Indian classical dance by Saraswati, a student group of the Department of Hindi, HUFS, and a Bollywood dance by LILA, a student group of the Department of Indian Studies, HUFS, took place during lunch.

The Academic Panels

All together five academic panels were planned for the conference. All panels were held at Byuk-ho Hall, in the same building of Wooduk Hall.

Professor Alok Roy of the Department of Hindi, Busan University of Foreign Studies chaired the first panel on “Hindi Education of the World.” As one of the leading professors in Indian studies, Professor Roy has spent more than 30 years in Korea, and has published more than thirty books and articles on India-Korean relations. Presenters for the panel discussed the efforts to standardize Hindi education in India (Professor Vibhuti Narain Rai, Former VC of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha), Hindi education in Australia (Professor Peter Friedlander, Australian National University), Hindi education in Eastern Europe (Professor Vijaya Sati, HUFS), and 40 years of Hindi education at HUFS (Professor Kim Woojo, HUFS).

Professor Choi Jong-Chan, professor of Linguistics in the Department of Hindi, HUFS, chaired the second panel on “Interpretations of Hindi and its Development.” Professor Ge Fuping of Xian International Studies University discussed specific features of Hindi and their linguistic/cultural roots. Professor Krzysztof Iwanek, professor of Indology at HUFS, presented a paper on the Vidya Bharati Schools and the role of its curriculum in Hindi education. Professor Hriday Narayan of the Department of History at HUFS presented his views on Hindi and nationalism. Following Q&A sessions, dinner for participants was served at the GLA Dining Hall, HUFS.

Three panels were planned for Friday, March 14^th, the following day. The third academic panel was chaired by Professor Rambux Jat of the Department of Linguistics at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Under the title of “Indian Classics and Translations”, Professor Lim Geun-Dong, professor of Sanskrit, discussed the contribution of Sanskrit in the studies of Hindi. Professor Hideaki Ishida presented the use of folklore and folk stories in Hindi education, with Professor Saraswat Mohan Maneeshee giving a presentation on Tulsidas. Professor Jiang Jingkui presented on the Chinese translation of Indian classics. Tea and refreshments were served after the panel.

The fourth academic panel was titled “Hindi Education in the Global and Digital Age”, with Professor Jiang Jingkui acting as chair. As a panel focused on newer technology, Mr. Rawat from the Indian Embassy, Seoul, was present to observe the panel. Professor Takeshi Fujii of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies presented a paper on Hindi and Hindi literature education in the digital age, introducing several useful websites with information and resources on the topics. Professor Lee Eun-gu, Department of Indian Studies, HUFS, presented a paper on Hindi film music in teaching Hindi, and also during the Q&A session performed a famous Hindi song to great applause. Professor Rambux Jat presented the shifts found in Hindi language and usage due to globalization. Lunch was served at the GLA Dining Hall.

The final academic panel was chaired by Professor Hideaki Ishida, on “The Hindi Learner: Actuality and Expectations.” Professor Mohan, director of the Central Institute of Hindi, Agra, discussed the learning behavior of Korean Hindi learners, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Professor Chihiro Koiso discussed methods of raising motivation of Hindi learners. Professor Koh Tae-jin, professor of Hindi at Busan University of Foreign Studies, the only other university in Korea apart from HUFS in which Hindi is taught in a departmental unit, presented his experience in teaching Hindi at a regional university. Professor Hu Rui presented several innovative methods in Hindi education. Tea and refreshments were served after the Q&A session.

Closing Ceremony and Cultural Events



The closing ceremony took place after the final session, with Smt Suniti Sharma, Deputy Secretary, Hindi Department, Ministry of External Affairs, and Director Neeharika Singh as observers. Professor Mohan and Professor Peter Friedlander each gave a detailed report of the academic panels, which were followed by short notes by all participants from the five countries. The Certificates of Presentation were handed to each participant at the ceremony, by Smt Suniti Sharma, with small souvenirs. Following an official photograph session, all participants moved to dinner at a traditional Korean restaurant.

Participants of the conference made the resolutions to continue international cooperation and collaboration among scholars of Hindi throughout the Asian-Pacific Region. The participants all highly commended the organization of the conference as well as the quality of the papers, and several requested information on the processes of proposal and organization.

The third day of the conference consisted of cultural events, with the participants joining a tour of the Korean Folk Village at Yongin. Lunch was provided at the Folk Village bazaar, at which the participants could freely choose their own menu; in the afternoon another tour took place, including the Secret Gardens of Changduk Palace, Seoul, one of the oldest palaces of the Josun Dynasty. The final dinner was served at Ashoka, one of the most famous Indian restaurants in Seoul. Participants departed Seoul starting on March 15^th, with Professor Rambux Jat as the last participant departing on Monday, March 17^th.