When a language which is the primary tongue of 30% of the nation is made the "national language," you are gonna have to face the 70% - After moving to Hyderabad, I get reactions ranging from polite, curious questions to ridicule when I ask people to stick to English.
Well, for some of us, learning Hindi is not a choice - for others, Hindi is not a choice. Yes, I grew up in places where you heard Hindi only on Doordarshan (nowadays, cable TV too) and where schools offered just two languages - Tamil, English. Even in schools that offered a third language, it was French (because it was easy?) or another Dravidian language.
Yes, I know that isn't great - but, you know, I didn't get to set the rules when I was in school. It isn't bad at work - though, people tend to assume you know Hindi! I think the first time I had a problem big-time was when I went out for a trip with this group - and they were speaking in Telugu/Hindi. Well, there was at least one person who took the time and effort to speak to me (in English) - may his tribe increase. The sad part, though, was that most of them didn't care - and, worse, at least one person knew that my Hindi isn't fluent!
In fact, it was worse than being out on the road. Do you know why? Because, when a conductor, bus driver, or shopkeeper realises that I don't know the language, they try their best to use the simplest of words and use English if they know. Also, I am not trying to build relationships there - I manage to get what I want and I will get going. However, when you go out as a group, you are trying to get to know them - where language matters all the more.
After such an experience, quite naturally, I spoke about it to a couple of people and got some suggestions, including reply in Tamil :P - now, that's gonna be fun!
The other day, when I couldn't sleep, I was searching for more information on India and the languages in this country. Not surprisingly:
"Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 21 other official languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanscrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu" [source]
So, the next time you think of saying "Arre, national language - how can you not know?" - ask yourself if you are a hockey player.
Got it?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
1:42am
Yup! Looks like the writer's block has gone - at the expense of my sleep :( Pretty restless - it's raining outside... intermittent powercuts ... everyone's sleeping... police siren in the distance... me clicking at objects around me!
July
July so far...
For the first time in the last 2 years, my parents wanted me to stay longer!!
I sat for an exam after a long, long time - Went to Loyola for the first time :O
Someone said 'my training session was the only one that didn't put him to sleep' - oops!
I went to Jog Falls again, trekked again and got drenched again - what was different: lesser water, harder trek thanks to the gaping holes along the trail [I am still fuming at the idea of building concrete steps to the very end].. and, how can I forget the heavier bag+camera this time!
AC compartment in Indian Railways - claustrophobic!
I got to take a whole load of pictures of 7 sweet puppies - and then cry when one of them died less than 2 weeks later!
And, most recently, I am broke - big time! My bank balance is an all-time low and will remain so for the next 30 days!
For the first time in the last 2 years, my parents wanted me to stay longer!!
I sat for an exam after a long, long time - Went to Loyola for the first time :O
Someone said 'my training session was the only one that didn't put him to sleep' - oops!
I went to Jog Falls again, trekked again and got drenched again - what was different: lesser water, harder trek thanks to the gaping holes along the trail [I am still fuming at the idea of building concrete steps to the very end].. and, how can I forget the heavier bag+camera this time!
AC compartment in Indian Railways - claustrophobic!
I got to take a whole load of pictures of 7 sweet puppies - and then cry when one of them died less than 2 weeks later!
And, most recently, I am broke - big time! My bank balance is an all-time low and will remain so for the next 30 days!
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Writer’s Block?
Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of things I wanted to write about, but could never get myself to write! I've been happy, sad, miserable, bored ...and everything in between. In the midst of it all, I've thought I got to post at least a dozen times - and I never got around to do that! Same thing with photography - I want to experiment with the bunch of new filters I've got - but never did!
Something flipped over today - don't ask me what, coz I don't know. Oh! Please don't build castles either!
This evening was one of those days when I sit 'n wonder what's happening around me - too many things moving at the same time - feels like I am caught in a whirlwind...and then, had a pleasant surprise - a friend I've known for a long, long time came by. It was a much needed break - the chat, the jokes... sometimes, it is the little things that make a big difference!
Anyways, came home - took my camera out and did some experimenting - hope it gets better from now on...
It's 11:34pm and I should be sleeping... I will, soon!
Something flipped over today - don't ask me what, coz I don't know. Oh! Please don't build castles either!
This evening was one of those days when I sit 'n wonder what's happening around me - too many things moving at the same time - feels like I am caught in a whirlwind...and then, had a pleasant surprise - a friend I've known for a long, long time came by. It was a much needed break - the chat, the jokes... sometimes, it is the little things that make a big difference!
Anyways, came home - took my camera out and did some experimenting - hope it gets better from now on...
It's 11:34pm and I should be sleeping... I will, soon!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Jog Falls, Karnataka - v2
When I started from Hyderabad, last Friday, the plan was to trek at Kodachadri. But I refused to go - I don't want to donate my precious blood to the leaches there! I'd rather go there well prepared - gumboots et al :) So, having shelved that plan, we had to come up with an alternate plan.
I was already on my way to Bangalore, so I called up an old friend of mine who had a litter of puppies at home! After a photoshoot at his place, we moved on hoping to find gumboots in Bangalore - but then, it was getting late. So, we decided to go to Jog Falls (via Shimoga). I was eager to compare my photos with my pre-SLR days :)
We reached Shimoga close to 10pm (after a 6.5 hour bus ride from Bangalore) and found a room at one of the hotels opposite the bus stand. The next morning we left for Jog Falls - 2.5 hours from Shimoga. It seemed to be a sunny day - so different from our last visit when we were drenched by the time we reached the entrance! Though, the sunny day was to last for just about 10 minutes - I guess there is nothing called a sunny day at Jog! Yup, soon there was a heavy downpour - I began to wonder if we'd be able to trek at all!
We started once the rain abated - we had to walk a little further to find our way down - the normal path was closed because work is going on. They are laying concrete steps all the way to the bottom! God save this beautiful place once that's done and the whole world can go all the way down to dump their waste! I'd hate to see this place get crowded and dirty.
Anyways, soon we reached the stairs (which is work-in-progress) - you get on it and start walking. It's not like a trek anymore :( And then, all of a sudden, the stairs end! Well, they haven't finished it yet. So, instead of concrete steps, you walk along gaping holes with iron bars sticking out! Their idea of making up for the lost adventure so far? I don't know! But, if you are going there, you better watch your step! After walking around a number of such holes, I began to wonder if it was worth it all - this place looked so mutilated and here we were carrying our cameras and tripods ...
There was point when it was pouring like crazy, the holes dug up for the stairs looked like a never-ending mess, and I thought we should turn around. But then, we moved on - and reached the base of the falls! I still remember standing there wondering if we should go on - the bag seemed heavier, the camera seemed bulkier, we seemed to be carrying way too many things ... and it looked like the downpour would never stop. Looking back, I think I can begin to understand what climbers/trekkers feel when the weather isn't the best!
Was it worth it - definitely! It's such a great feeling the first time you step in to the stream after the trek - though, you'd get your shoes wet in the process! It's not a good idea to walk barefoot because of the sharp stones. It is such an awesome experience to stand there in the middle of gushing waters and look up at the waters falling all around you - to be surrounded by nothing but rocks, shrubs and water!
Soon, it was time to make our way up -with the rain for company. It rained so hard... the waterfall turned brown... was awesome to look at! It had barely stopped raining when we were on the last stretch - a pretty steep climb. We made it over the wall and it started pouring again!
We waited for the rain to stop and then dashed to the hotel - only to find they had nothing interesting :( We got out
PS: v2 - is visit #2 not version 2
I was already on my way to Bangalore, so I called up an old friend of mine who had a litter of puppies at home! After a photoshoot at his place, we moved on hoping to find gumboots in Bangalore - but then, it was getting late. So, we decided to go to Jog Falls (via Shimoga). I was eager to compare my photos with my pre-SLR days :)
We reached Shimoga close to 10pm (after a 6.5 hour bus ride from Bangalore) and found a room at one of the hotels opposite the bus stand. The next morning we left for Jog Falls - 2.5 hours from Shimoga. It seemed to be a sunny day - so different from our last visit when we were drenched by the time we reached the entrance! Though, the sunny day was to last for just about 10 minutes - I guess there is nothing called a sunny day at Jog! Yup, soon there was a heavy downpour - I began to wonder if we'd be able to trek at all!
We started once the rain abated - we had to walk a little further to find our way down - the normal path was closed because work is going on. They are laying concrete steps all the way to the bottom! God save this beautiful place once that's done and the whole world can go all the way down to dump their waste! I'd hate to see this place get crowded and dirty.
Anyways, soon we reached the stairs (which is work-in-progress) - you get on it and start walking. It's not like a trek anymore :( And then, all of a sudden, the stairs end! Well, they haven't finished it yet. So, instead of concrete steps, you walk along gaping holes with iron bars sticking out! Their idea of making up for the lost adventure so far? I don't know! But, if you are going there, you better watch your step! After walking around a number of such holes, I began to wonder if it was worth it all - this place looked so mutilated and here we were carrying our cameras and tripods ...
There was point when it was pouring like crazy, the holes dug up for the stairs looked like a never-ending mess, and I thought we should turn around. But then, we moved on - and reached the base of the falls! I still remember standing there wondering if we should go on - the bag seemed heavier, the camera seemed bulkier, we seemed to be carrying way too many things ... and it looked like the downpour would never stop. Looking back, I think I can begin to understand what climbers/trekkers feel when the weather isn't the best!
Was it worth it - definitely! It's such a great feeling the first time you step in to the stream after the trek - though, you'd get your shoes wet in the process! It's not a good idea to walk barefoot because of the sharp stones. It is such an awesome experience to stand there in the middle of gushing waters and look up at the waters falling all around you - to be surrounded by nothing but rocks, shrubs and water!
Soon, it was time to make our way up -with the rain for company. It rained so hard... the waterfall turned brown... was awesome to look at! It had barely stopped raining when we were on the last stretch - a pretty steep climb. We made it over the wall and it started pouring again!
We waited for the rain to stop and then dashed to the hotel - only to find they had nothing interesting :( We got out
PS: v2 - is visit #2 not version 2
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