Every time there is a debate on Hindi, it leaves me miffed!
Hindi is our natural language. We have one of the biggest film industry churning out dozens of movies every year which are linked not only by our neighbours, such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal as well, and mind you - none of them is solely a Hindi speaking nation.
Then why Indians, at least once a year, have this debate and discussion on 'State or status of Hindi'???
The fact is that we do not need to see the problem elsewhere when the culprit is amongst us. It is one us who demeans Hindi or puts it at an inferior place to other languages, especially English.
The only problem or obstruction in Hindi is the pseudo elite class which finds it below their dignity to understand or speak in Hindi. Many of you, like me, must have witnessed these pseudo elites, who are invited to important conferences and seminars as specialists. They start their address with an apology for their lack of knowledge of Hindi or for their bad spoken Hindi. Starting with their bad spoken Hindi, they take no time to switch over to complete English, ignoring the fact that the majority of audience or participants, for whom the event has been organised in the first place, cannot understand a word of English. However, these intellectuals carry on unabated without realising the fact that the audience has either lost interest or has started communication amongst themselves.
Same people, who do not find themselves comfortable with Hindi, go home after the seminar or conference and watch Hindi serials. They are also spotted watching and also relishing Hindi movies.
I feel Hindi comes to Indian as naturally as Mandarin to any Chinese. The only difference is that Chinese do not find it demeaning to speak in Mandarin whereas in India many of us find it below our status to speak in Hindi.
Hindustan, Hidustani, Hindu, Hindi... all these words are coined from one word. They all underline broad heartedness and a readiness to assimilate and accept different religions, isms, lifestyles and also vocabularies from different languages. This is the reason why Hindi is getting enriched with every passing day.
Although there are people who cry hoarse for the distortion of Hindi as it has assimilated words from English, Persian, Urdu and also Arabic. But, in my view, this has enriched the language. This new, versatile and dynamic face of Hindi has increased its comprehensibility and has popularised it even amongst those who do not have Hindi as their native language.
A language can survive only if it changes with time.
Kudos to Indian film and television industry for not only keeping Hindi alive but helping it grow younger and more attractive day by day!!!
Hindi is our natural language. We have one of the biggest film industry churning out dozens of movies every year which are linked not only by our neighbours, such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal as well, and mind you - none of them is solely a Hindi speaking nation.
Then why Indians, at least once a year, have this debate and discussion on 'State or status of Hindi'???
The fact is that we do not need to see the problem elsewhere when the culprit is amongst us. It is one us who demeans Hindi or puts it at an inferior place to other languages, especially English.
The only problem or obstruction in Hindi is the pseudo elite class which finds it below their dignity to understand or speak in Hindi. Many of you, like me, must have witnessed these pseudo elites, who are invited to important conferences and seminars as specialists. They start their address with an apology for their lack of knowledge of Hindi or for their bad spoken Hindi. Starting with their bad spoken Hindi, they take no time to switch over to complete English, ignoring the fact that the majority of audience or participants, for whom the event has been organised in the first place, cannot understand a word of English. However, these intellectuals carry on unabated without realising the fact that the audience has either lost interest or has started communication amongst themselves.
Same people, who do not find themselves comfortable with Hindi, go home after the seminar or conference and watch Hindi serials. They are also spotted watching and also relishing Hindi movies.
I feel Hindi comes to Indian as naturally as Mandarin to any Chinese. The only difference is that Chinese do not find it demeaning to speak in Mandarin whereas in India many of us find it below our status to speak in Hindi.
Hindustan, Hidustani, Hindu, Hindi... all these words are coined from one word. They all underline broad heartedness and a readiness to assimilate and accept different religions, isms, lifestyles and also vocabularies from different languages. This is the reason why Hindi is getting enriched with every passing day.
Although there are people who cry hoarse for the distortion of Hindi as it has assimilated words from English, Persian, Urdu and also Arabic. But, in my view, this has enriched the language. This new, versatile and dynamic face of Hindi has increased its comprehensibility and has popularised it even amongst those who do not have Hindi as their native language.
A language can survive only if it changes with time.
Kudos to Indian film and television industry for not only keeping Hindi alive but helping it grow younger and more attractive day by day!!!
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