Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at the Shastri Memorial in Tashkent during an official visit to Uzbekistan. The occasion marked 60 years since former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away in the city in 1965. Following the memorial visit, the Prime Minister toured the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies and announced a new scholarship scheme for Uzbek students studying Hindi.
What was announced
The Prime Minister launched the Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for Hindi language learners from Uzbekistan. This initiative comes as the university marks eight decades of teaching Hindi and related Indian subjects to students. The scholarship aims to support Uzbek scholars interested in Hindi language and Indian studies through the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the university.
During the visit, the Prime Minister met with the Uzbek Prime Minister and university leadership. He engaged directly with Indologists and researchers working on Indian subjects at the institution. Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies has maintained strong academic programmes in Hindi language instruction and Indian cultural studies over many years.
Historical context in Tashkent
The legacy of Lal Bahadur Shastri remains prominent in Tashkent. A street in the city is named after the former Prime Minister. Additionally, a school and the Indian Cultural Centre both carry his name, reflecting the enduring memory of his connection to the city.
Linguistic ties between the two nations run deep. Uzbek and Hindi share over 3,000 common words, which has contributed to sustained interest among Uzbek students in learning Hindi language and understanding Indian culture.
What this means for you
If you are an Uzbek student interested in Hindi language studies, the new scholarship programme offers financial support for your academic pursuits. The scholarship recognises the shared cultural heritage between India and Uzbekistan and seeks to strengthen educational links between the two countries. For those following India’s cultural diplomacy, this announcement underscores New Delhi’s commitment to promoting Hindi language and Indian studies internationally through educational partnerships.