Claremont Colleges, renowned for its academic excellence and commitment to cultural diversity, is overlooking a significant opportunity by not offering Hindi and Urdu language programs. These languages are not only among the most spoken languages globally, with over 700 million speakers, but they also represent a rich cultural heritage with deep-rooted traditions in literature, politics, and history.

The absence of Hindi and Urdu in the curriculum is a gap in the colleges' offerings of comprehensive global languages education. Including these programs would not only enhance the cultural inclusivity and diversity that Claremont Colleges values but also prepare students to effectively engage with one of the world's most populous and dynamic regions.

To illustrate, India and Pakistan alone account for nearly 20 percent of the world's population, making Hindi and Urdu crucial languages for anyone interested in global issues, international relations, and cross-cultural communications. Moreover, these languages open up a wealth of literary and historical resources that are currently inaccessible to students at the colleges.

By adding Hindi and Urdu programs, Claremont Colleges would better fulfill their mission of fostering global citizens who can communicate across cultural and linguistic barriers. This would also strengthen the institution's reputation as a leader in liberal arts education by catering to a wider range of linguistic and cultural studies.

We call upon the administration of Claremont Colleges to take prompt action in recognizing the importance of Hindi and Urdu in our interconnected world. Let's ensure that the institution's curriculum truly reflects its dedication to diversity and global engagement. Sign this petition to support the introduction of Hindi and Urdu programs at Claremont Colleges.