I am different from other people because I believe that to completely understand and respect another person’s culture, one has to make an effort to assimilate and try and pick up the local language. I have made my efforts to learn Kannada – one hindrance is that surrounded by English and Hindi speaking people, I have had very little opportunity to hear Kannada except from my maid. I have picked up some language this far and continuously make efforts to learn more.
One more point is that in order for people to want others to learn their language, they have to be nice and welcoming. Do you think I would want to learn your language if you are rude to me and force me to learn it? I would not and I would certainly not respect either you or your culture. Of late, I have seen that in any conflict situation, this local angle comes up very easily. If you break a traffic rule and get into an altercation, should you be let off just because you speak Kannada and are a “local”? Who is a local? I am a local too. I live here and love this city and contribute to it’s economic wellbeing. This is a part of India and I belong as much here as to any other city. Why this hostility and animosity? Why are certain organizations allowed to spread this divisive agenda? If this was not allowed then why have a country called India, let people have 25 different countries?
What irks me no end is to hear that this person is a local and I am not ! I had always heard that languages build bridges, enhance communication, but these days languages are used in India to divide people and promote ill will among them – case in point – Mumbai. It irritates and disappoints me no end to see even educated people succumb to this mentality. Sorry to say but coming across friendlier and level-minded people is more of a rarity these days.
In political circles calling India a “secular” is a matter of pride and chest-thumping. But they balk at their job when it comes to discouraging regionalism.
Both for their political gains. Secular is good because it gets them the precious muslim vote. And looking the other way for regionalism because they want the “local” vote.
These fscking politicians will sell their parents if they get some extra votes.
Exactly, this whole divisive agenda on the basis of castes, regions, languages, religions keeps the politicians and their vote banks thriving. They care a damn about what happens to the country and the people in the bargain.
Media also plays a big role in this ill will. They hype the division so much but when it come to unity or some action related to this then it will get a very small place in their newspaper. They should publish positive thoughts or actions on the very first page so that positivity and secularism spreads and stays in people’s mind.
@Manika – Though I agree that media should reduce negativity, they are looking for things newsworthy (read spicy and provocative). I doubt if readers would want to read only good things on the front page when so many ugly things are happening. We live in a real world. What they can do is reduce the coverage they give to such events.