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.
