The Urdu Hindi Cultural association of New Zealand (Inc) held the annual general meeting on Sunday 15th of Dec, 2013 at Roberton Rd Avondale Auckland.
In this meeting Hon. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi Member of Parliament was unanimously elected as the New Patron of the association. Mr.Bakshi in his speech said that it’s a honour and pleasure to work with a group of dedicated and enthusiastic people who are promoting the Urdu and Hindi languages. He also said according to the latest census results in New Zealand, Hindi language has emerged as the fourth most common language spoken by the South Asians by origin living in New Zealand. He congratulated all the members of the association for their hard work on promoting the cause of the association.
National Party MP Mr.Bakshi also said that UHCNZ could be an effective bridge between the govt and the society in the future to promote the languages.
The president Mr.Nafis Akhtar who was re-elected also congratulated all the members for their services and contribution to the association. He said that the association’s major goal will be to set a library, continuing with the teaching languages and carry on with the Ghazal/Mushaire and magazine once a year. Mr. Syed Mujeeb, secretary submitted the annual report and Mr. M.M. Baig , submitted the annual financial report for 2013. The most active members have been NeelamChoudary, RoopaSachdev, Tahseen Sultana, Patrick Bennett, Siraj Hashmi, M. Maqbool Ahmed and Mr. V. Giriwere actively involved in the discussion.
Mr.MazherMemon, the election officer; announced the newly elected office barriers for 2014/15. They are as follows:
PATRON……….HON KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI MP
PRESIDENT……MR NAFIS AKHTAR JP
VICE PRESIDENTS
1.ROOPA SACHDEV QSM
2. DR M. M. BAIG TAIMOORI
SECRETARY GENERAL……SYED MUJEEB QSM
GENERAL TREASURER……MRS TAHSEEN SULTANA
EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR..MR PATRCK BENNETT
INCHARGE WOMEN AFFAIRS…NEELAM CHAUDRY
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
1. PROF.DR S D MATHUR
2. MR M. MAQBOOL AHMED
3.MR M.TAUQIR KHAN QSM
4.MR RAJESH MAHARAJ
5. MR V. GIRI
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS:
1. DR PIRYA PUNJABI
2.MOHAMMAD IMRAN
3.MR MAZHAR MEMON
4.MR GHOUSE MAJEED
5.SAIMA SIDDIQUI
6.SUMAN KAPOOR
7.SIRAJ HASHMI
8. MR M.A. HAQ
By Syed Mujeeb,
Journalist and secretary of the Urdu Hindi Cultural Association of New Zealand.