Tell me SIr....

Can you tell me Sir why do we not play everyday anymore like the good old days when at the stroke of 5, after the last half an hour of perfunctory studies, books were packed in a frantic hurry, bats were wielded like maces and a determination to be that evening's hero in the match prevailed? Can you tell me Sir why half an hour of Disney Hour on TV was much more fun than hours of TV and computer now? Tell me this also why kites no longer catch the eye, no longer the desire to fly them? The fun at school, teasing boys on girls and girls on boys. Why don't I understand how the fun of one samosa eaten in the school canteen refuses to be downplayed by the myriad succulent dishes tasted later? Those races with stick-beating the tires and running after them. Those pantomimes with cycles as buses and us donning the roles of conductors. Tell me sir where is the shine of the eye when not knowing what to do never irked the mind? Nor did the spectre of the future bear down upon? Why does that uncanny knack of being contented not present itself anymore? Tell me Sir, was it just a case of 'ignorance is bliss'? Sir, tell me, will you?

What ? Yenna ? Yenu ? Kaay ? Kya ?.....

Come Saarang, the whole institute is up and alive. There is a general aura of excited euphoria and anticipation. The peak of emotions are reached in the professional shows. Professional shows ranging from Tamil performers to Hindi singers.

I have found many a pass times in these moments where people are completely themselves,having shed the garb of pretension of being someone else. These shows bring out the true element in the students and for a neutral observer, there couldn't be a better experiment. And the conclusion that comes out is disturbing. Here's how :

It is a known fact that people react most positively to known or heard songs. This is true even if the new song is way better. Familiarity always takes a upper hand. People want something to sing by, something which they can predict. A known song offers all the experiences of singing and discovering a new change from the original song. And since familiarity is synonymous with language compatibility, people react differently to different languages. All is fine. Nothing is wrong in that. However the crux of the matter is how people react to songs of an unknown language. This scenario brings to the fore the attitudes, the notion that people harbor towards a language. And it is precisely this particular observation that is disturbing.

Having lived outside my native state all my life, I think I am qualified enough for an impartial take on this matter. There is nothing wrong in not enjoying a 'non-compatible-language' song. However in the Saarang pro-shows I have been witness to many a cases where people indulge in abusing and mockery of local languages. This raises the question of superiority of the national language. The question at hand is what is the need for a national language ? Is it something other than a common platform for interaction between various states ? (Some might argue that English does that job well)

Why this disdain for 'non-compatible' languages ? Why this unjustified intolerance in all walks of life ? Sometimes these circumstances force me into thinking that the multilingual culture of India is detrimental for national unity. Sometimes one truly craves for a single unified language. Sometimes I wish India had only one language.

Someday I hope that people will not squabble over petty things like languages like people from different countries. Someday....someday....

“ Let my country awake, Father....let my country awake...!”
_ R. Tagore

Nostalgic Festivities..

Ah...so there is a notice put up here announcing the change in holiday for Deepavali....and I suddenly realize " Oh..so Deepavali is coming...! " A bit of introspection ensued...

What do festivals mean for trapped inmates like us here.... ? Just a holiday ?...Or just a change in mess food (for all those "stay in room " guys..)..?....going down the memory lane, I remember old diwali days...all the relatives huddles together in cramped houses....crackers....new clothes....and most of all the succulent delicacies that used to be meticulously made with astounding rigor...! The karanjis , laddus, chakalis, mithais.....ah...what good times....!

And now....all we have is a monday holiday.....to be passed just like any other day with the mess food...!