Saturday, January 23, 2010
Language Barrier
At times I wonder how foolish we can be. Just because someone speaks a different language we see that person as alien. Of course as I have posted earlier, language can be a barrier as far as administration is concerned but how is it that it can be used as tool to alienate a section of society. Why do you feel slighted if someone else speaks some other language? I agree we all should be proud of our mother tongue but that does not implies we look down upon other languages. Still you can see a lot of instances in history where language was used as a tool to create divide in society. Forcing your language on others can lead to a lot of trouble. Pakistan forced Urdu on Bengali speakers and eventually had to part with them. India was engulfed in language movement in 1960's when they tried to force Hindi on southern states. One of the reasons for unrest in Punjab was Hindi/Punjabi divide. Now language is being used as a political tool in Maharashtra. There are several parties who are opposed to the English education terming English as a foreign language. Should we abandon a good thing just because it is foreign? They raise trivial issues such as changing 'India that is Bharat' to 'Bharat, that is India' in constitution. What good this change is going to bring? But as usual these parties have no logic to defend their statements. Be proud of your mother tongue but respect other languages. The language in usage should be the language that is convenient. I will talk to a farmer in Uttar Pradesh in Hindi and a foreigner in English. Just imagine what will happen if I do the other way round?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
All humans have low desires and it is in political interest of few people who pander this weakness. Among other things, like religion, caste race, it has no logic at it's base.
One just cannot expect any rationale from the Indian political parties. Yesterday, there was a news that from now onwards, talks with foreign delegates in Maharashtra would be held in Marathi with the help of a translator. How stupid can the affairs get in this country?
In other countries and even in the IFS, diplomats are taught other languages so as to make better connections. But in India, we follow a regressive model for development.
In a state with so many other problems, all that the politicians did was to create a new one out of thin air and zeroing all their efforts on this one.
Post a Comment