Utra Gurdayal, a seasoned educator with over 30 years of experience in Fiji classrooms, is passionately dedicated to preserving the Hindi language and, by extension, the culture it embodies. Although now retired from traditional teaching, Gurdayal continues to impart her knowledge and love for Hindi through storytelling, poetry, and community engagement, ensuring the language resonates with a new generation.
Reflecting on her childhood, Gurdayal recalls the warmth of family gatherings as her father read the Ramayana, instilling in her a cherished connection with Hindi. As an educator, she recognized practical challenges in her classroom, particularly the scarcity of textbooks. To address this, she took the initiative to create short poems and stories that children could easily grasp—three-line verses for beginners and more complex pieces for advanced students. Her philosophy focused on enabling children to learn and appreciate language at their own pace, stating, “If they can’t read a big poem, give them two lines they can learn and love.”
Gurdayal has authored and published five books, including her debut work, “Mahak.” This creative non-fiction piece is designed for Year 9 students and uses a dialogue between a grandmother and grandchild to explore Girmit history, engaging young minds with their cultural roots.
Her meticulous approach involves extensive research; she often spends time at the National Archives and the Fiji Museum to ensure her historical narratives are accurate and authentic. “Without research I cannot write,” she asserts, emphasizing the importance of grounding her work in factual context, which has earned her accolades from both educators and readers alike.
Gurdayal’s retirement is characterized by a blend of structure and creativity. Her mornings are filled with prayer and gardening—she humorously shares that she speaks to her flowers—followed by dedicated writing sessions in the afternoon. Whether crafting succinct poems or developing longer chapters, she maintains a rhythmic routine accompanied by music. Additionally, she actively promotes reading by designing bookmarks, engaging young readers about their interests, and offering quiet mentorship to emerging Hindi teachers in her community.
Despite her commitment, Gurdayal expresses concern over the challenges Pacific writers face, particularly the high costs of publishing and the scarcity of grants. Many, she notes, resort to self-publishing in India or bear the financial burden of printing themselves.
Moreover, she is alarmed by the decline in Hindi enrolment, which she attributes not only to educational choices but also to what occurs within families. “If parents don’t speak Hindi to their children, the words never take root,” she warns, highlighting the crucial role of home language use in cultural preservation.
Through her endeavors, Utra Gurdayal exemplifies dedication to cultural heritage and the power of language in fostering community bonds—efforts that echo hope for the future, ensuring that the heart of Hindi continues to thrive across generations.
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