From Namaste to Ni Hao

The HRD Ministry plans to introduce Mandarin in CBSE schools.

Gloomy forecasts for India-China relations notwithstanding, the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry is pushing for its version of ‘Hindi-Chini bhai bhai’. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has decided to introduce Mandarin in CBSE schools. And China’s education minister has promised to train 200 Indian teachers to kick off the initiative. According to Sibal, the best way to introduce our neighbour to Indians is to “introduce its language at the primary level so that our kids develop interest and knowledge about China”. Looks like time for ‘hey you’ to make way for ni hao.