Unless you have solid 20 mins to waste, don’t read this!!! Ok guys. I AM NOT ANTI-HINDI. I CAN UNDERSTAND HINDI, my brother can speak Hindi like a hinterland guy, my husband was brought up in Maharashtra and can speak Marathi and Hindi. Ive also tried writing those prathmic madhyama exams; its always nice to learn a new language as long as its not forced. The issue is, while some of u can view language as just a means of communication, to most of us it is more emotional than just a practical tool for communication. In fact, that is how language has been to humans through most of history. At every point of time, kingdoms and countries were created (mostly) on the basis of LANGUAGE only. Most South American countries have Spanish as official language now, because, they were ruled by Spain. In Chile vs. Spain match, both footballers wudve accused each other in Spanish only! Most African nations have French as official language because, tada, they were ruled by France. USA tries its level best to differentiate itself from UK with ss and zs, footballs and soccers. Now lets not get into language of the alien ruler. For all u know, if the Chozhas had stayed in Sumatra Java, most of the Malay countries might be predominantly Tamil now. We can say lots such ifs and buts but history is history and the ruler ruled. Brazil is hosting the WC, will most likely host the 2016 Olympics, is the largest Latin American economy, all the while speaking Portugal, the language of once-upon-a-time ruler. Must be why its easier for us to accept English than Hindi. And why shouldnt it be? What is my advantage of learning Hindi? Ill be able to easily read my govts tweets!!! (So an entire generation needs to learn a new language, instead of the govt spending seconds to tweet in English.) Ill be able to converse comfortably with my neighbour, fit into the neighbourhood, IF i settle in MP UP and the likes. (Oh stupid me! Till now I thought being an Indian was enough for that, or thats what Bollywood Hindi cinema showed me!) But for everything else in this fast-turning digital world, WE WILL NEED English. Simply put, my merits of compulsorily learning English are way more than learning Hindi. So why dont we save time and just learn English!! Your goal of common communication platform is achieved; and we too dont have a problem. Right from creation of countries in Europe to states in India, LANGUAGE is more than just for communication. It is a strong emotional bond that transcends physical country borders (which is why it hurts us when Tamils are killed in Srilanka, essentially that countrys internal affair) and sometimes even religious borders (ask Mallus). Speaking any language is not just communication in India. Let me put it this way: Being Indian is our national identity; the language is our CULTURAL IDENTITY! We may not shout it openly, but subconsciously there it sleeps always, and wakes up whenever it perceives the slightest threat (ask senas marathi mannoos). So Tamil (whether we speak it or not is a different issue), is not just communication for us; it is the basis of our culture! Now do you understand the complexity of the problem? What you view as simply imposing a practical communication platform, we view it as a culture imposing itself over ours. And we have every right to fear so because... lets take movies as an example: while I see one BIG BOLLYWOOD Hindi industry and few struggling Marathi, Punjabi or Haryanvi cinema up there, I see strong Bengali and four stronger industries here. May be because we stood by our language!? A culture that failed to protect its language has never survived in history. U may say, F**k ur emotions. Trust me, I want too, but not my fault its not that simple. Its like pushing my mother out and giving the neighbour aunty a chance? Why would I??? And alas, democracy too doesnt work that way; it is more about peoples feelings than reason and thats why democracy works! Your methods will work in a dictatorship; but you first need to turn India into one; and good luck with that!
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 20:24:31 +0000
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