Gen-X Mother Tongue

It so happens many a times while I am writing a letter, it reminds of days when I used to or rather we used to write letters(mails) in Hindi. With the globalisation expanding its empire from industries to our daily life, ”the English” has become the language we want to “live”. I believe those of my age have far left hindi writing to their home. How many times has it happened with you that your mother dictates you the items to be bought from market and you start writing in hindi and suddenly you realise …” alas! how to write this word” or “Oh my god! its so hard to write letters”. While these same alphabets of language we used to write very fluently or say used race during our schooling days. So what has changed since 10th class to now ? We have grown older, we have become professionals, but why has that stopped us or rather pulled us far from writing in hindi….even for one off-day ?

I believe many of ideal people will blame self for this, but I differ from the point. I believe it is environment. A person speaking in Hindi at workplace or between “high profile” friend is thought to be backward or ignorant. Parents teach their child ”A for Apple, B for Ball” before “ka se kabutar, kha se khargosh“. If a kid in first class writes an application leave in hindi he is asked to come back with an application in english. Is it fair ? I mean what is the problem if kid wants to write letter in hindi ? Even for once ? Does teacher does not know hindi ? Or is it the question of reputation of school, “What if some other school comes to know about this, we loose our students to that school”. ? Yes, I guess it is the last reason that weighs more than anyother reason. And the same reason in different forms follows us everywhere, in every other sphere of life.

It happened with me in a posh mall near my place, there was this small kid of around 2 years. I just tried to interact with the cute little chap, but he did not get a single word I spoke. No it was not because he wasnt upto it, but because he wasnt taught hindi yet, but could talk in english. And that was when I realised, that coming generation has already left us far behind…so far that even their “mother”- tongue is left far behind !!!!