He was speaking at a function to mark World Hindi Day, which is normally observed on January 10. It was postponed because Misra was out of the country, accompanying Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her state visit to India.
Hindi was brought to Trinidad by the ancestors of nearly half of the population of the country. However over the years a lack of interest and a western culture caused it to lose appeal.
The Indian High Commission has been helping re-establish Hindi and offers classes for anyone who wants to learn it.
Noting that India is the ancestral home of many citizens of Trinidad & Tobago, the diplomat noted that it is the language of "your ancestors who came from that land where your grandparents or great grandparents over three or four generations were speaking in Hindi."
He asked, "Why should that not be revived here again ? Why should we not make an effort?"
Mishra said Hindi is not a difficult language to learn. He said if people can learn and understand foreign languages such as Spanish and French, there is no reason why Hindi which, he said, is the language of their culture could not be learnt.
"Please understand that Hindi is not a foreign language for any of you. Hindi is your language. It was an integral part of your culture then and it is an integral part of your culture now.
He asked, "Why should that not be revived here again ? Why should we not make an effort?"
Mishra said Hindi is not a difficult language to learn. He said if people can learn and understand foreign languages such as Spanish and French, there is no reason why Hindi which, he said, is the language of their culture could not be learnt.
"Please understand that Hindi is not a foreign language for any of you. Hindi is your language. It was an integral part of your culture then and it is an integral part of your culture now.
"Trinidad and Tobago is primarily a diaspora country and the recent State visit of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago to India has marked a new chapter in our bilateral relations."
Mishra said people in India connected with PM Persad-Bissessar in a way that they may not have were she the head of state of a country like France, the United Kingdom or the United States.
"It is because of the roots of the Prime Minister that found an instant connect with the Indian media. She just swept the Indian media unlike anybody else has ever done before.
Mishra said people in India connected with PM Persad-Bissessar in a way that they may not have were she the head of state of a country like France, the United Kingdom or the United States.
"It is because of the roots of the Prime Minister that found an instant connect with the Indian media. She just swept the Indian media unlike anybody else has ever done before.
"Wherever she went she has been the darling of the media. Today Trinidad and Tobago and Kamla Persad-Bissessar are household names in India and the simple reason was because of this connect," Misra said.
He said the connection would have been even stronger, especially in Persad-Bissessar's ancestral village, if she had been able to speak to the people in Hindi.
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