Click to play videoLucknow: Software, tourism and yoga have always attracted Americans to India, but now there is something new that is pulling them to the land of the exotic - Indian languages.
Macwell ,may be an American student but he recites Urdu poetry by Mir as well as anyone else. And Macwell's not the only one
Says another student of the American Institute of Indian Studies, Rohina Apat, "I like Urdu poetry very much and I hope that one day I will be able to recite it with ease."
About 150 students have joined the American Institute of Indian Studies this year to learn Indian languages, a third more than the previous year.
It's the only organisation in India that offers language fellowships and receives funding from both the Indian Government and US government. Hindi, Urdu and Tamil top the most-wanted list, with Bengali, Malayalam and Oriya coming a close second.
Says Director General, American Institute of Indian Studies Purnima Mehta, ""Post 9/11, there has been an interest in South Asia. India being the largest country, there is interest in India and that's how more and more students are coming here. Also economic relationship is also at an all time high with the US."
While some students aim to pursue research in these languages, some wish to teach or translate or even become actors. Then there are NRIs, who want their children to learn and understand their language and culture. So Indian tongues just might become another big Indian export to the US.
(With inputs from Tejaswi Rathore and Anumeet Kaur Bedi)
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