the article seems to reveal a man with a good vision and independent thoughts but at the end it seems that he is a bit parochial. Ofcourse this is not surprising. I am from Bengal but stayed for a long time in South India especially Bangalore. I studied as well as worked in south India. I have visited all the capital cities of the four south Indian states and many other places in the south. From my persomal experience what i have found that except Hyderabad/Andhra Pradesh , people of almost all the other south Indian states are parochial and very regional minded. Though the people of the south are far more educated and better behaved and polite than the people of the north(of the Hindi- speaking belt) their attitudes make people feel that they are different.
Wish the bongs in Kolkata learn something from this. In Kolkata , Bengali has become almost the least spoken language in public places. Its Hindi, Marwari and Bhojpuri etc mostly spoken threatening the cultural existence of the Bengali language in Kolkata. The official language in Esplanade , the city's centre is Hindi. This is alarming and threatening. Kolkatans should revive its Bengali speaking culure but still maintaining/retaining its identity as a cosmopolitian city.
RE:Language Factor
by varun on Apr 28, 2008 09:00 PM Permalink
well oxymoron stuff.. first u say south indians are parochial just because they want to protect thier culture and language .. next u want ur benagali brethern to do the same! crazy!
RE:Language Factor
by sudipta sarkar on Apr 28, 2008 09:10 PM Permalink
What i have said has been quite logically said. Initially i used to think that parochialism is an evil. I still think its an evil but the fact is ine culture should be lost by the unacceptable influence of the other. This is a truth in line with the sustainable development of human socities and culture. Whatever you say oxymoron or what else, this has been said from a different perspective which you will never understand unless you are from Kolkata and that too a Bengali who vehemently opposes to lose his own cultural identity.
RE:Language Factor
by mahabodhi on Apr 28, 2008 09:35 PM Permalink
Well Neta ji did understand that!And that's why he wanted ROMAN SCRIPT for Indian languages!In America there is no official language but they are doing work in English and are not afriad of losing their Language Culturally!North Indians leaders specially made quite a hullbulla about Hind but now all their childern are studying in English Schools!Brijesh Mishra's dauhgter is married to Italian !And Yashwant sinha's childern are citizens of America!In fact we all are prochial indeed !But we shoulkd adopt Netaji's suggestion and adopt ROMAN SCRIPT for our languages!It will solve our language probelm!This is the only Solution!
RE:RE:Language Factor
by sudipta sarkar on Apr 28, 2008 10:10 PM Permalink
No nonsense. What i am saying is the truth. Bengali is spoken lesser and lesser in Kolkata today. If you do not understand the problem its your problem.
RE:Language Factor
by mahabodhi on Apr 28, 2008 10:34 PM Permalink
@sudipta sarkar Your observation is correct!Even Bangla Culuture has been diluted by Marwadis as observed by many observers!But do remmber that Hindia also was first promoted from Kolkata and many Publishing Hous were estabnlished for Hindi and also Bangla litretuture was translated from there!In fact during my child hood except Premchand and some authors I all used to read and preferred was Banla litrtuture translated in Hindi!Bangla used to rule then with sharat Chaterrjee ,Bankim ,Tagore and Bimal Mitra list is endless!But with incresing industry and migration of labour and as Bihar too was part of greater Bengal? Language tilt as you mentioned begin!But Bangla is international language and Bangla litrtuture has been and I hope continue to be great!When all Indians are looking for their old identity Bengal will retain its cultural greatness that's for sure!
RE:Language Factor
by mahabodhi on Apr 28, 2008 10:50 PM Permalink
@Sudipta sarkar You obsrvation is correct !It ois true as many observers too have said that even bangla culture has been dilated by Marwadis who control the Business in Kolkata!But with Industrilasation migration of workers from Bihar too came!And even Hindi was first promoted from Kolkata by many Publishing Houses and Trnsalation of Bangla litrture was begin from Kolkata!In fact during my child hood except very few Hindi authjors such as Prem Chand all Litrtuutre in Hindia was translated from Bangla Sharat Chandar Chaterjee ,Bankim Tagore Bimal Mitra etc!But as Boihar too was a province of Bengal Hindi did infiltered in Kolkata!Now when Indians are looking for old identities as Bomabay become Mumbai, Calcutta now Kokata Madras -chennai Bangalore now Bengaluru and off course the Bangla will survive and continue to produce world class Litreture !
RE:RE:Language Factor
by sudipta sarkar on Apr 28, 2008 09:12 PM Permalink
sorry, mistake in typing. I mean to say one culture should not be lost by the unacceptable influence of the others. And therefore what the 'parochailism' that i saw in the south may be understandable when it come to a situation like what is in Kolkata today.
any educated person reading this article would know what Dr.Anantmurthy is trying to say.....he says people should "voluntarily" learn the language...and see what rediff did.......it made it such an provoked and sensitionalised headline......
why....rediff.....why are you doing this......sell your daughters and mothers to earn money instead of creating the national integrity issues.........dont do it.....please..please...please.............
There should b schools to learn Kannada for non kannadigas. They should b run from tax collected from Kannadigas who feel non kannadigas should learn Kannada like Dr Ananthamurthy
You live in a democracy where only Indianism should count. Nothing else.
Kannada people are very friendly and speak the Language of the Guest - in any part of Karnataka. After Kerala, Karnataka has a huge Tourism Economy.
But Now Karnataka has progressed Industrially very well. Now if the Kannadas start pretending not understanding any other language other than kannada Like Tamilians, That will suffice to kick all Non-Kannadigas out of Karnataka.
India is a Democracy AND the Language speakers are as much the Citizens of the Democratic Country.
I mostly agree with Dr. Anantmurhy's manifesto. Couple of point I would like to make are: 1) Reservation should be for 'Poor' only. 2) I 'm happy for the Bangalore's devt, but also saddened by the western culture's successful attack on Bangaloris.
The only positive thing about Dr Anantmurhy's pro-Kannada stand is that he emphasises a voluntary initiative for non-Kannadigas to learn the state's language. Fair enough, sir, unlike the Raj Thackeray type goondaism. Now, why don't literrateurs like you stand up and proclaim - "People living in India should learn Hindi?" Ab iske liye to kise kee anumati bhee nahin chaahiye. Jaganniwas Iyer
RE:Linguistic capers!
by ad on Apr 28, 2008 08:50 PM Permalink
are just wait for ten more years...wait till kannadigas feel that they are being deprived of their jobs..wait till they become minorities in their own land..then we will see whether Raj thackeray type goondaism takes birth or not...
RE:RE:Linguistic capers!
by arun on Apr 28, 2008 08:55 PM Permalink
Being deprived.. !! hahaha.. u mean to say now cab drivers shud be seated on back seat where well educated northi high tech enggs are .. consult a gud phycologist
RE:Linguistic capers!
by BhejaFry on Apr 28, 2008 08:46 PM Permalink
Jaggu iyyer, u know very well that no one will voluntarily spend time and effort in learning local language. so ' voluntary ' appeal is bound to fail. for years , such appeals were made in maharashtra, but they fell on deaf ears.
the bottomline is migrants dont have time for studying local culture and language, they come to earn money, when that is done , they leave. all we can expect from migrants is to respect local language and culture.
RE:RE:Linguistic capers!
by arun on Apr 28, 2008 08:51 PM Permalink | Hide message
If something deserves respect then it cums automatically BhejaFry.. one shud not become begger for that..
RE:Linguistic capers!
by varun on Apr 28, 2008 08:52 PM Permalink
cant expect respect from uncivilized biharis
RE:RE:Linguistic capers!
by arun on Apr 28, 2008 08:57 PM Permalink
Those who cant respect their own national lang .. We beharis cant expect respect from those betratorsssss
RE:Linguistic capers!
by arun on Apr 28, 2008 08:46 PM Permalink
Well said Jaganniwas .. This guy also wanted to become politician & now working as a wounded politician.. Whatever he said everyone knows .. farmers, western culture, children edu ..
RE:Linguistic capers!
by varun on Apr 28, 2008 08:41 PM Permalink
why should he? hindi is just one national lan like kannada ,tamil ... y should he campaign for hindi?biharis are there for that!
RE:RE:RE:Linguistic capers!
by arun on Apr 28, 2008 08:48 PM Permalink | Hide message
Then y is he crying for better kernataka.. We biharis & north indians are there na.. so ask this bloddy 76yr old & u both to go to bad & take a deep nap .
RE:Linguistic capers!
by varun on Apr 28, 2008 08:50 PM Permalink
yeah we dont one more bihar down south..so only taling all precautionaries..u uncoulth biharis are bane to this country
RE:Linguistic capers!
by Kittappa on Apr 28, 2008 08:47 PM Permalink
what is this Hindi? why should people who have their own language learn this language? If south indians go to the north, I agree that they shohuld learn this so called imposed national language. However, if hindi people come to southern states, they should learn the local language and respect the culture. If these northi guys go to europe, they learn german, spanish, french italian etc with full enthu, but if they come to the south they expect people to talk to them with Hindi
