I was introduced to the Devanagri script as a kid by my mother, who was my Marathi tutor in a way. I have always been comfortable with the script ever since. In school we were introduced to Hindi in the 1st standard, an i used to enjoy writing those Ka Kha Gha alphabets as i was already aware of them. Hindi and later Marathi kept me in touch with the devanagri script. Infact so obsessed was I with Hindi that i seriously considered doing some BA/MA in Hindi Literature. I just used to love the language, still do. The Literature in that language was also good.
Its evident by now that i love the national language. This love really causes me to lose my temper at times, when people around me, Indians, having lived their entire lives in this very country, face a problem when reading, writing and worse speaking in Hindi. I used to get really pissed off by the student in my Junior College who used to read out Hindi as if they are reading Greek. Their accents would further irritate the hell outta me. On top of that, some people came from the school of thought that, talking Hindi as if you know nothing about the language, is the epitome of COOL. I felt pity at such morons. To feel embarassed to speak your national language, theres nothing more unnerving. Its not that these people did not know Hindi. They just never made the effort to improve on it.
Just today while i was watching TV, my brother gave me a pen and paper, and asked me to write in the Devanagri script the names of some of his friends, so that they could fill up their exam forms, which requires them to fill in their complete names in the Devanagri script. Now he is in the Final year of his BMS course and well versed in Hindi, so are the rest of the friends of his gang. But they cant bloody write their own names in the National Language?!? That was not only shocking, but unthinkable. I mean thats the first thing anyone, who’s learning a new language will want to know. To be able to write his own name in that language.
“I havent been in touch with written Hindi since the last 3 years, how do you expect me and my friends to recall all the alphabets in that case?”, was his argument. Well I just replied back that i have been outta sync with written hindi since my 12th too, its 6 years since that. But i do remember all the alphabets, and effortlessly write Hindi. How can one just forget a script that one has been in touch with for a good decade? Pathetic was the only word that came to my mind. To think that these very guys are going to become future managers, and they cant write their own names in Hindi. Atrocious!
Take Care
Ciao
