For anyone familiar with the rigours of an engineering degree, it might seem that engineering and poetry are a rare combination. Not so for Dr Subhash Sharma.
A mechanical engineer and alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Sharma migrated to Australia in 1995 and has since become a well-known figure among Hindi poetry lovers and within the community.
Going back to the early days in Melbourne, Sharma recalls that people were organising sangeet sandhyas (musical evenings), and some suggested the idea of holding sahitya sandhya (literary evening) more regularly. Once he participated in a sahitya sandhya, he embraced it with all seriousness.
“When you are away from your motherland, there are certain things that you miss greatly. And if you have a poetic inclination, you like to write,” he reflects.
Having always had a knack for poetry since childhood made it easy for him to further develop this interest. In 1999, during a brief stay in Brisbane, Sharma took the concept of sahitya sandhya there as well and organised poetry sessions.
On returning to Melbourne at the end of 2003, he organised a major event that brought together all the poetry lovers in the city. “That’s when things started to become more organised and have continued regularly to this day,” says Sharma.
Today, he organises a sahitya sandhya every second month at Kew Library in Melbourne, attracting many like-minded individuals.
Sharma is also a founding member and the current president of the Hindi Siksha Sangh, established in 2005. “Hindi Siksha Sangh and sahitya sandhya work hand in hand,” he shares.
Sharma’s devotion to Hindi is real. He worked with the late Dinesh Srivastav, whom he credits for pioneering the introduction of Hindi teaching at the Victorian School of Languages (VSL).
Over the years, the sahitya sandhya have not only served as a primal way for people to connect but also as a platform for achievement.
“From listening and reading to the pressure of writing something new each time, believe me, a dozen people have published their books through this exercise,” says Sharma.
It has also expanded into larger events, such as a kavi sammelan (poetry festival), through collaborations in other cities such as Perth, Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney.
In 2010, another milestone was the publication of a book titled “Boomerang – Australia se Kavitai” featuring 11 poets from Australia. The title loosely refers to the idea of returning to one’s country, drawing inspiration from the Aboriginal word. “Boomerang 2” was published in 2015, featuring contributions from 40 authors.
Building on the success of these publications, Sharma thinks that migrant literature represents a unique genre deserving of recognition.
“While we may not consider ourselves perfect or top-tier poets, the organisations I am affiliated with in India recognise the significance of our poetry addressing Aboriginal and Indigenous issues, memories of our homeland, or the challenges faced in our current country. This body of work can truly be classified as migrant literature.”
Since 2015, Sharma has been organising Hindi Diwas (September 14) and International Hindi Day (January 10) annually, with the full support of the Consul General of India, Melbourne.
“Our emphasis is on having Hindi recognised by the United Nations. As Dr Jayanti Prasad Nautiyal points out, the number of people who understand Hindi is even larger than those who speak English.”
He strongly believes that Australia’s census form should be revised to include provisions for more languages, ensuring that a wider range of linguistic diversity is accurately represented.
“For instance, it asks which language you speak other than English. Hindi often gets overlooked because people tend to report their regional languages, like Punjabi, instead. As a result, the true number of Hindi speakers goes unaccounted for,” explains Sharma.
Despite working full-time, Sharma remains dedicated to creating a vibrant poetry community.
“Whenever we get the opportunity, we promote Hindi. This October 27, through Hindi Shiksha Sangh, we’ll be hosting a Diwali function at McKenzie Park, Dandenong.
“Our goal is to encourage parents to make their children study Hindi. People do show interest and inquire about VSL, but not at the scale we hope for. A language that isn’t spoken eventually dies within the pages of books.”
Some may question the need for Hindi in Australia, but Sharma believes it serves as a vital language of communication among Indians, with 57 per cent of the Indian population speaking Hindi.
While recognising that every language holds value, Sharma asserts that for multiculturalism to flourish, it is important to make a positive contribution. He expresses gratitude for the government’s support in teaching 40 languages through the VSL.
Looking ahead, Sharma hopes for initiatives from the Indian or Australian government, or private sponsors, to bring renowned Hindi poets from India to Australia, allowing their work to inspire and influence audiences here.
Sharma insists that “Hindi must be promoted if we are to retain our culture and so that the younger generations [specially for migrant families] connect with the language.
“Speak your language without fear,” Sharma urges, hopeful that one day, children will recognise their language as a source of pride that deserves to be carried forward.
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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🇮🇳 Dr Subhash Sharma, an engineer & Hindi poet, fosters Melbourne's Hindi #poetry scene through sahitya sandhyas & promotes #Hindi language education. 📖 Want to know how his passion keeps the culture alive? Read more! 📝💬🌏 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/LKsPy2DZh3
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