How Not to get Irritated with Hindi

#48 by VRV on December 4, 2006 7:20pm PT
Re: # 45

BJ,

Though I disagree with Hari on many issues here, I agree with him on language issue.

The Union govt is spending hundreds of crores of Rupees on teaching/spreading Hindi among non-Hindi speakers whereas there are crores of illiterates in BIMARU states, where Hindi is the mother tongue. How ridiculous!

What u call Hindi is not an Indian language in strictest sense but a language that was a super-hybrid implanted in India by Persian rulers who called themselves as Indians. What u call Hindi as Indian language is Indian in script but not in speech. Why we Indians of 100-odd crores ought to follow a language that was imposed by outsiders, knowing fully well that the protoganists of that pseudo-Persian language fell-out of us (i.e Pakistanis)?

(I know I am opening Pandora Box by raising the question of the lingua franca of India. English too fits the similar description I gave abt Hindi).

Re: # 45

BJ,

Though I disagree with Hari on many issues here, I agree with him on language issue.

The Union govt is spending hundreds of crores of Rupees on teaching/spreading Hindi among non-Hindi speakers whereas there are crores on illiterates in BIMARU states, where Hindi is the mother tongue of those people. How ridiculous!

What u call it Hindi is not an Indian language in strictest sense but a language that was a super-hybrid lingo implanted in India by Persian rulers who called themselves as Indians. What u call Hindi as Indian language is an Indian one in script but not in speech. Why we Indians of 100-odd crores follow a language that was imposed on us by outsiders, knowing fully well that the protoganists of that language fell-out of us?

(I know I am opening Pandora Box by raising the question of the lingua franca of India. English too fits the similar description I gave abt Hindi).

Ref bjkumar #45

[Ama dad, I think quite a few of those folks missed the escape velocity as far as the language is concerned. Most Tamils I know speak Hindi.]

Even I do. Just all the swear words so that I can abuse anyone who asks me why as an Indian I don`t speak the ``national`` language Hindi.

[You see, the gravitational pull of those Hindi movies is far stronger than anything a government could ever come up with! One can never accomplish the necessary escape velocity.

And there is no escape!]

Quite a few Hindi movies used to be made in Chennai. So we push out crap over which you Northies drool!

Re: #42 by bjkumar on December 2, 2006 11:33am PT

Message to the endless chowkwalies from beej

``Abhi to mein jawan hoon, abhi to mein jawan hon, abhi to mein jawan hoo, la la la la la la``

Beej, when are you growing. no no, how old are you? I`m officially droping a line.

Love,
RB

#44

[the smart ones figured out that if they could get a job with Tata Consulting Services, they could reach escape velocity and leave India and stupid Hindi behind forever. Though the numbers were very small then, it started growing by the mid-1980s. Right now, the commonest language spoken in Silicon Valley among Indians is not Hindi but Telugu and Tamil. ]

Ama dad, I think quite a few of those folks missed the escape velocity as far as the language is concerned. Most Tamils I know speak Hindi.

Or what THEY claim is Hindi, anyway.

But then that`s how the language evolves!

You see, the gravitational pull of those Hindi movies is far stronger than anything a government could ever come up with! One can never accomplish the necessary escape velocity.

And there is no escape!

Ref nb #22

[What i do find interesting,though, is that when I was at school there were significant anti-hindi movements all over the South and elsewhere as well. You don`t see them any more. I don`t think it`s entirely Hindi films either, but I think they may have played a role. It just shows everything really can be solved with money-people stopped caring when they had more money!]

Compulsory learning of Hindi was an issue when the stupid Indian government was practically a Communist government monopolizing all industries and having a say on how you lead your life. Exactly what use would Hindi be to an employee of, let us say, State Bank of India working in a remote coastal village in Bengal, Kerala or Andhra? Yet all government employees were supposed to learn and use Hindi in their official capacity.

What happened is that with the introduction of IT jobs, young folks saw an escape from the clutches of the government stranglehold on jobs. Even in the 1970s, the smart ones figured out that if they could get a job with Tata Consulting Services, they could reach escape velocity and leave India and stupid Hindi behind forever. Though the numbers were very small then, it started growing by the mid-1980s. Right now, the commonest language spoken in Silicon Valley among Indians is not Hindi but Telugu and Tamil.

I am glad the frikking North Indians imposed Hindi on the country and refused to learn English. It has truly separated the lazy bums of North India from the industrious Southies and has left the North Indians to the tender mercies of Lallu Prasad Yadav, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav and that female dog imported from Italy to improve the bloodlines of an Allahabad family.

Ref Inji-kari-kuzhambu #14

[Gopalakrishnan- sar, engaging read, but i`m not convinced that hindi has `blanketed` all of india. Most younger folks in madras know little or no hindi - they have no need for trashy hindi movies when they have their own unlimited supply of trashy tamil movies.]

Hey, I thought you were proud of Tamil culture! What happened to you? Your wife is no longer/never was the submissive type portrayed in Tamil movies?

Anyway, I had pegged you as one of all of 39 persons who has watched Doctor Artist Leader Chief Minister Fund of Compassion`s ``Kannamma`` or ``Mannin Maindhan``. Don`t tell me I was wrong. I would be heartbroken and so would be the ``teardrops``.....er, DMK members.

PS. How about translating a different song extolling Tamil culture? This one is: ``Thee pidikka thee pidikka muththam koduda``.

#41 Ama Gopal Sahib

(Note: You are truly hitting ``below the belt``!You have to be careful. Your allusion to my latest ``love`` will leave countless ladies of the chowk heart-broken. (And perhaps even more countless ladies of the chowk relieved!) Khair!)

Back in the sixties, there was an active attempt to more aggressively popularize the Hindi language in geographical areas of India where it was not generally used. There may have been a bit of opposition to this on the part of the general population – but as is typical, for the most of the population, the response was mostly apathy. However, it provided a good excuse for “regional” politicians (funny how quickly they trade that hat for a “national” one at the first opportunity of power!) to create local agitations. There were also agitations in the Hindi belt in support of Hindi.

The whole idea of imposing a language makes very little sense anyway – since language is a tool of communication and whatever works best for a particular setup should be used. Therefore, with technical subjects English makes sense (no need to translate technical text and having to invent (artificial) technical terms in the destination language), and in teaching about literature – the language it is specific to.

The central government took its lessons from the agitations – that the cost was not worth the benefit, and did not pursue it any more. (Compare that with the example across the border – of trying to impose Urdu over the Bengalis – and its results!)

But India continued to grow, and to evolve – and nationalism automatically overran the regionalism – which is the logical outcome when the nation reflects the aspiration of ALL its citizens and does not run rough-shod over them! Bollywood and other media have done their job and accomplished what would have been unthinkable forty years go.

But because the nation continues to evolve, the language of its people does so too – because it reflects those very people. Therefore, the changing syntax and the changing vocabulary, and the changing everything about Hindi is a GOOD thing. It shows that the country is thriving in other respects, too.

The language will come up with new words and different words because a healthy language of a healthy people must be able to accommodate new situations and different situations and a better tomorrow!

So, go celebrate the diversity!

Dear interactors,
I liked the comments so far, and I would pick Jay1 for enlightening me the most. He is really experienced as is evident and very knowledgeable.

bjkumar seems to have fallen in love with razia and that is something to worry for everybody.

By the way, do not imagine, readers, that I torment myself for ``not getting respect as an elder``. If you read a sad poem, do not assume that that poet is always sad! A writer`s art is in exaggerated focus on a momentary issue too, not necessarily momentous issue! Mumbaiyya Hindi torments me as much as the torment I suffer when I have to type out my inextricably jumbled password given to me by chowk editors that I cannot easily remember!
-V.S.Gopalakrishnan

Re: # 38

aw, that made me feel much better --and yep no trusting 30+ :)

In your post #36 on December 1, 2006 5:11pm PT
you said ``Ama Razia begum, ...``

That`s what i was refering to. But that`s cool now that you have apologized :)

Peace,
RB

Re: # 24

Thank you sir. I came back and re-read it thinking you maytake a dim view of the tone but glad to know my instincts were right :))

#37 by raziab9

My dear Razia, you are not bad with words yourself!

And one more thing – this one is rather private (so EVERYBODY else please look away!)Okay Razia, now come a bit closer – yup, that ear – bring it close to me – just about there! That’s right!

Psst, let me tell you this!

The reference “ma’m” is not a reference to age – it’s merely a term of respect I use for referring to ladies!

All right, you are hereby granted that precious commodity – the abhai-daan.

And just one more thing!

NEVER trust anyone over thirty.

No matter how they make you feel at ease!

Even the Beej!

Re: # 36 bjkumar

dear kumar I already love you --that`s why I have followed up with your posts so far.
And ha-ha for that feminism, that was mockery by me to someone else --the posts there were a dumbo. But u happened to use my ``rooaring`` example well :D G`job!

Wow, and your language is jumping roofs. Calm down. I know you`ve got a good vocab and language skills but let`s just use them properly.

PS. i`m yet under 20 so get the ``lady`` thing out of mind

luv,
RB

#35 RaziaB

Ama Razia begum, thanks!

Thank you for your good wishes! I am overwhelmed.

(Can we fall in love, now?!!)

You are a shining example to hold in front of the fair maidens (and the not so fair maidens (probably the majority)) of Pakistan!

YOU are exactly what the Qaid needs, has always needed, and shall forever need to get that country marching on the path to progress – toward the relentless pursuit of knowledge, prosperity, and everything else that constitutes happiness (other than a khaki cover)!

Let feminism roar!

A sense of humor comes handy! I am sure you have tonnes of it.

Let feminism roar through your voice!

Let your feminism roar – even as the great ladies of Pakistan – of the land of the Pure – keep their mouths shut tighter than a clam while getting raped by the khakis, the mullahs, and all the other lowly creatures of that great lund!

Re: # 32 by bjkumar

Man of letters + a dragger

See how far things have dragged?

Good for you,
RB

PS. if you`re up to taking anger mgmt classes then join rightaway --otherwise who knows how old you`ll get while refusing to grow.

If you don’t – I got bad news for you!

You are old, old, old…..!

Now, you have been told!

Re: # 33

Yeap, I`ve started to enjoy all the posts by now.

Goodday,
RB