English ,despite the fact that it has so many phonetic and grammatical disabilities, despite being a relatively new language and despite being a language that is alien or secondary tongue to most people, English still rules the world! Most regional languages are slowly declining and dying a slow and gruesome death. Along with it, its culture, history and heritage fades.
Especially in India, and especially down south, people have this notion that english is the mother of all languages and its hep to converse in english and rustic to converse in their beloved mother tongue.
I paraphrase what the Editor of Indian Express, Mr.Gurumurthy once said,
Its sad that people believe that if you have to abuse somebody, that has to be done in English! If you abuse the Anglicized Indian, he will not find fault with the blame but with the grammar in your language! This is the extent to which a foreign language has possessed us. But, we must master English, that is needed, but why do we have to become slaves of the English language? We must use that language as a tool, but why do we consider it as a status symbol? This is the influence of Macaulay.
I feel ashamed that I am not able to fluently write or read my tongue, Tamil or the tongue of my forefathers, Sanskrit. Everything needs a start. Better late than never. So I am slowly reading about my roots and language. The irony is its English that is helping me learn Tamil and Sanskrit!
We read about the British rule and about their viceroys, but barely read regional history, we are given a fleeting glance about popular Indian kings, but are just Kings our history? what about local cultures, temples, ancient Indian inventions, our medicines....sorry for the digression...but i guess its aa good digression...am hinting the topic of my next blog...:-)
Empty your minds and start thinking afresh!!!
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4 comments:
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Letme limit my discussion with the tamil speaking population.
when parents encourage their children to take hindi/sanskrit as second language, where is the chance for children to learn...(my own relatives stand testimony to this )...just like charity begins in home,our people should encourage children to know our mother tongue..i think this is the first and foremost step in reviving the spirit of the language....
On the contrary, i have seen people here in US sending their kids to classes to learn tamil...Is separation creating a longing/affection?..
Topics like these can lead anyone into never-ending discussions and debates..Hindi and Sanskrit were my second and third languages in school but I barely had any interest to learn the languages.In fact,I used to hate my history class.Only after coming to North America I began to admire and value what my homeland possessed.When I had plenty of opportunity and resource to learn the best things,I did not make use of it...
When I open my mothers slokam books..I take an entire minute to read 4 words in Sanskrit...
as the famous saying goes (i have not worded it frame to frame)
"You must see through the eyes of a person to realize how he feels"
We realize our culture in a broader perspective once we see it from outside and when we experiences on the other side to. This makes our judgment more validated and perspective.
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