History

Providing a scholarly knowledge of Hindi language, Hindi literature and North Indian culture and promoting related research in this field among Sri Lankans are the aims of the Department of Hindi Studies. It was established at the very beginning of this University, under the guidance of the Venerable Professor Bhadantha Anand Kausalyayan, an expert in Hindi, from India. The Department was later assigned to the Department of Modern Languages but regained its status as an independent department in March 1995 with the effort and guidance of Professor Indra Dassanayake. It remains as the only independent department for Hindi Studies among the Sri Lankan universities.

The Department of Hindi Studies offers Hindi for the Bachelor of Arts Degree and conducts a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree program in Hindi. Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree programme, which was then named as Bachelor of Arts (Special) Degree in Hindi was launched in 1982. In addition, the certificate level course named 'Proficiency in Hindi' is offered for undergraduates of the university and 'Diploma in Hindi' is offered for external learners who are interested in Hindi. 

The Department of Hindi Studies at the University of Kelaniya has a rich history marked by significant milestones and achievements that have contributed to its growth and development as a leading academic department in Humanities.

• 1959: Vidyalankara Pirivena and Vidyodaya Pirivena were upgraded respectively as Vidyalankara University and Vidyodaya University. HE Rajendra Prasad, former President of India, donated books at the opening ceremony of Vidyalankara University. Separate Departments were established for Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit, and Hindi at the Vidyalankara University. Teaching Hindi at the university was started. Venerable Professor Bhadanth Anand Kaushalyayan was in-charge of teaching Hindi at Vidyalankara. 

• 1969: Indra Dassanayake was recruited as a Probationary Lecturer, becoming the first Sri Lankan to be recruited for the permanent academic staff of a state university to teach Hindi. Later in 1971, Ravilal Wimaladharma was recruited to the Department of Hindi Studies as an Assistant Lecturer. 

• 1974: Hindi studies was added to the Department of Modern Languages (along with French, German, Russian, and Japanese). 

• 1982: The Bachelor of Arts Honors degree program in Hindi was started after Dr Indra Dassanayake's efforts to revise the syllabus and incorporate Hindi literature and North Indian culture. 

• 1995: The Department of Hindi Studies regained its status as an independent academic department of the university. Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees in Hindi were made available for postgraduates. Hindi was also offered for the Bachelor of Arts External Degree program. 

• 1998: Basic Sanskrit was introduced as a minor subject to the curriculum, and the first volume of the HINDI Journal was published. 

• Around 2004: Components of linguistics were added to the curriculum. 

• Around 2007: Diploma in Hindi was started as a fee-levying course for interested people outside the university. The second volume of the HINDI Journal was published. 

• 2009: Curriculum revisions added contemporary literary texts, principles of translation, and practical components to enhance language skills. 

• 2016: A volume of abstracts of the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Hindi Studies was published. 

• 2017: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the University of Kelaniya to fund a Visiting Professor for Hindi. The volume of abstracts of the Indo-Lanka Hindi Conference was published.

• 2018: Hindustani Prahar Sabha donated Hindi books to the Professor Indra Dassanayake Hindi library. 

• 2019: Indrabhivandana - Professor Indra Dassanayake Felicitation Volume was published. 

• 2020-2021: The most recent curriculum revisions for undergraduate degree programs were made, adding course units focused on language teaching, professional purposes, research methodology, technical writing, creative composition, translation and interpretation. 

• 2024: Hindi Alumni was formed with the former graduates of the Department.

These milestones highlight the Department's continuous commitment to excellence in education, research, and international collaboration, making it a leading department on Hindi Studies in Sri Lanka.