International learners are embracing Hindi studies at Lucknow University to deepen their understanding of Indian culture, literature and everyday life
Foreign students from Germany and Poland are choosing Lucknow University to develop their Hindi language skills, combining academic study with a deeper exploration of Indian culture and traditions, reported hindustantimes.com.
Their journeys reflect a growing interest in learning Hindi beyond textbooks, with students seeking a closer understanding of the language as it is spoken and used in everyday life.
From classical music to linguistics
The report quoted Odemar Bühn, 21, from Germany. He is in his first semester of a BA in Linguistics, Sanskrit and Philosophy at Lucknow University. His interest in Hindi began around five years ago after he developed a fascination with Indian classical music.
The experiences of these students highlight the role of Lucknow University in attracting international learners interested in Hindi, Indian culture and wider linguistic studies
He taught himself through online resources, radio broadcasts and films before deciding to pursue formal academic studies in India. For Bühn, learning Hindi is an important part of understanding the philosophical traditions of the Hindi-speaking region.
Polish students deepen their studies
Similarly, Iwo Zawadzki, 25, from Poland, first became interested in Indian culture and Dravidian languages at the age of 17. After studying Tamil at a Polish university, he travelled through Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mumbai.
He later chose Lucknow University to strengthen his understanding of Indian linguistics through a structured Hindi curriculum. Having completed a BA thesis on cultural identity in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, he is now preparing for advanced studies in endangered languages and comparative linguistics.
The report mentioned Anna Nowicka, 45, another student from Poland, who is pursuing her second year of an MA in Hindi and Modern Indian Languages. Her interest in India grew through the International Centre for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), yoga communities and an earlier visit to the country in 2010.
She also spent a year at Kendriya Hindi Sansthan in Agra learning Hindi. Nowicka said she wanted to move beyond a surface-level appreciation of Indian culture and understand the nuances of everyday life through language.
