The 'Other' Language!
My native language happens to be Tamil - Many of my friends do not speak/understand the language. One of the first things that someone from another state asks (or rather makes fun of!) is why Tamilians do not know the national language? I have many a times wondered why this was the case.
(1) Is it because we love our mother tongue way too much? If so, does that mean Kannadigas, Andhrites, Malayalis or any other non-native Hindi speakers love their mother tongue any lesser?
(2) In India, there are may be 6 or 7 states where the native language happens to be Hindi - like MP, UP, HP etc... predominantly the northern belt. The north-eastern, southern and western states have languages of their own. Was it right in making the entire country adopt Hindi as the national language, just because of the 5 or 6 states?
(3) Why the fuss about the national 'language'? Do we care for the national sport - How many of us had actually seen a Hockey match on TV? Like the 'language', should not the sport be imposed on the entire country, rather forcibly? Do hockey players look down upon other sports in India!?
There are so many other 'National' things, but people dont even know they exist.
But, why, of all, a 'language' is the core issue?
Thoughts and comments, more than welcome!
(1) Is it because we love our mother tongue way too much? If so, does that mean Kannadigas, Andhrites, Malayalis or any other non-native Hindi speakers love their mother tongue any lesser?
(2) In India, there are may be 6 or 7 states where the native language happens to be Hindi - like MP, UP, HP etc... predominantly the northern belt. The north-eastern, southern and western states have languages of their own. Was it right in making the entire country adopt Hindi as the national language, just because of the 5 or 6 states?
(3) Why the fuss about the national 'language'? Do we care for the national sport - How many of us had actually seen a Hockey match on TV? Like the 'language', should not the sport be imposed on the entire country, rather forcibly? Do hockey players look down upon other sports in India!?
There are so many other 'National' things, but people dont even know they exist.
But, why, of all, a 'language' is the core issue?
Thoughts and comments, more than welcome!
posted by Eclectic Blogger at 8:35 PM
7 Comments:
yeh , language need not be a core issue..
"indiala kaaka dhaan neriya irukku ..adhukkagave namma kaakavayaa national birdnnu solrom"- en friend sonnadhu
yeh.. national language need not be enforced. this is my opinion
I accept ur point...
tata
sukku
No force, But i would say no harm in trying to learn a new language. I am an tamilian and have been asked the same question by northie friends..
But I would say we should not be an ignorant,ademant state just by saying no HINDI please.. but rather try to say Namaste'!!
cheers,
Nanyaar?
Here's a lil History -
Hindi was not forced. Hindi was chosen because of its simplicity and the way it could be easily learnt - during the days we were under the Brits. The freedom fighters, irrespective of creed, language or religion communicated in Hindi ... and it was retained as the National language after Independance.
**************
A child can learn as many languages as possible when young. At that age, if the child could be taught English, Hindi and Tamil - it would be much easier.
Instead, most parents complain about the 'Size' of the school bag and the lessons and bicker about everything. When they spend time either gossiping or watching useless Tamil movies or TV soaps - why cant they talk to their children?
Why cant learning be fun?
Why should TV be the one which brings families together in 'speechless' mode?
yes, no one talks - but everybody listens either to Visu's Aratay arangam (actually that's the one thing I used to watch - it was nice) or to Chithi (I hated this one)
My point is - The goal of language is to communicate. When you know more number of languages; the advantage is that you will be able to communicate to a larger audience. Understand that it is Petty and silly to fight, condemn and take away the right of children to learn another language just because you (not you BA - all those politicians and policy makers) think they need to know Tamil. I think that parents should give their children the advantage by helping them learn as many languages as they can when they are young.
@loveena : WEll I do understand it is nice to learn a new lang and other blah blah blah....
But Im not sure if you have been through this, when a Tamilian tries to learn HINDI, they are made fun of the mistakes they make in the process which I guess intimidates most of them and they choose to refrain from speaking that language. One of the comment from my Northie friend was " These bastards reply in English in Tamilnadu if you talk to them in Hindi" . As you rightly stated if communication is the only concern, why would someone care which language you reply back in. As far as I know, English is the "official" language used in all kinds of paper work in India and I would be surprised if they can't understand that.
As for tamilians not learning Hindi : I guess it is more to do with the Politicians who do not want to accept it rather than the people.
If we start blaming the TN politicians for that, why do the politicians emphasise so much of Hindi when they officially use English for all paper work??? Is it because most of them are not that educated ...lol...
Another point is : English is an universal language. Indians stand proud when they go abroad coz they have been educated in English :-) and it sometimes adds advantage to them. If communication is the main criteria then we dont have to worry about learning new languages as long as we can get the message across
PS: This does not mean i dont know hindi. I love to learn new languages :-) Just want to tell what I felt. I sometimes feel bad when "tamilians" are looked down by our own countrymen for the fact we dont know hindi
tata
sukku
PS to Anonymous: Sorry..my comment is i guess bigger than the blog post...
@Priya - Nice point abt 'kaakas' from your friend. Thanks for your comment.
@nanyaar? - True, but educating the masses will take a long time. May be in Chennai, ppl can learn Hindi sooner, but in villages were ppl are hardly educated, it is an uphill task to get them to say even 'Namaste'!
@Tamizhan - Hmm.. Did u get a chance to ask your parents WHY ;-)
@loveena - Good point, learning a new language at this age will be next to impossible. Hindi should be definitely included in the state syllabus atleast till class X, that would prove very beneficial.
@sukku - Yeah, we will not make the mistakes and have the 'accent', if we start learning from an early age. And yes, the northies do have to learn better English as well. The reason they make fun of us not knowing Hindi, is coz of their not knowing much English probably ;-)
@kalai: Yeah, very true.. I know that Tamil was on the process of being declared as a Classical language.. but wonder what is happening in that area..
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