Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Mind Your Language


Mind your language


The first words that one speaks as a toddler are always in one’s native language. Over the years, one keeps on learning the language so spoken at home and suddenly we get propelled into a foreign language; English. And voila, we all forget to speak our mother tongue. Imagine the pressures we all go through to speak English, and to be proficient in the Queen’s or be American and speak the Yank way. Here, I would like to say beforehand, I am as guilty as the next person. There is a sweet person who will comment or post something; well this is just my point across for someone who asked. NRI’s who come back to Punjab come searching for what they left behind, the nativity and the language!
But, what they see or get to hear is the rapid Americanization or the change in the manner the next generation speaks. Well its with everything; I think the pressures to speak English to be it with everything foreign to be modern is so high; the pressures force us and our kids to swim this current.
We all initially want our kids to excel so that we can score high, speak like little parrots, parroting away everything and then later on everybody sinks in the mire. When we want them to go back to their roots; it’s too late as they have already been cut off from them. The generation now is rootless, global children who want to assimilate, sponge away the world; they truly live by osmosis. Not like us, who do and act like the English but still are Punjabi to the core.
India , was under British rule for a long time, and then when they left we were still under the influence of the Gora log and all of us wanted to shrug off the “Brown” description. But , the coming years , the industrialization the rapid growth kept us on this path , what kept on happening slowly an dsteadly was the erosion of the mother tongue. Over the years , Punjbai was taught selectively for three years and that also optional . kids started learning French , German and could identify foreign authors, poets as their own .
Maybe there is hope, when Shakespeare got translated into Punjabi by Surjit Singh Hans ….
I don’t know how we can stem this , the Anglicization of Punjabi, the abuse by Punjabi rappers and the only identity being the over the top jatt, zameen , goli , bandook , nasha has led me to being  weary.
Yes there has been a revival of Punjabi film industry but honestly over active hormones, some crass humor is not what I want ….

Bibaji, maaf karo …

Monday, August 26, 2013

Civic Sense - Not Applicable In India


Civic Sense – Not Applicable in India


Strong words for the scenario in India. WE are increasingly being labeled as a country of rapists, scoundrels, a country going to the dogs, mute to the situation affecting us and with rampant corruption. But, something has changed in the psyche of our nation we are at best indifferent to the surroundings. An indifferent attitude, why should we care, or it doesn’t affect me is the current attitude.
It is interesting we can urinate in public, defecate in the open but we can’t kiss in public! The morality police would be there to admonish and also slap you with a fine. Imagine that. Why do Indians lack civic sense?
Because as Clark Gable from Gone with the Wind says, ‘Frankly my dear, we wouldn’t give a damn. “ We will touch, spit, urinate in the open invade personal space, touch grope a female, give back rude replies, bully, conduct unruly behavior on public transport and the worst because nobody told us it was wrong.
Gurinder Kaur replies, “ I have seen trash flying out the swankiest cars with out a care. All of us become very civic when we are in foreign countries for the fear of a fine but here. All gets piled up right in front of the house!”
Parents these days are worried about good grades, marks in Math’s, and to secure positions to get admission in universities, civics is learnt by rote so that one may score high percentages and is not given any importance. There are no practical lessons in school or at home. Civic sense is the sense of belongness with a community in all respects and the social ethics that seek a common good for all. Regrettably we do not keep our surroundings clean, we will throw all outside the premises without a care for anyone.
In fact Ms.. Parminder Pannu Councilor of ward 60 is an upset lady; she is supervising the construction of the roads in her ward with a huge grant and the behavior of her own constituent residents is saddening. They are just not bothered in cooperating with her. There are designated earmarked areas where garbage should be thrown; but no they will not do so. Drains are being cleaned in Khurla Kingara; that are overflowing with Corex bottles, broken needles, plastic, and used cloth, she gets them cleaned again and again and but they get clogged. WHY?
The problem is we end up blaming the authorities, the government, but we ignore the fact garbage is produced by us, and we dump it in lanes avoiding to be seen by others. As education seems to be increasing in the generation is turning illiterate towards cleanliness, hygiene. Civic sense is not only about keeping roads clean, hygiene but to respect the law, respect fellowmen, maintaining decorum in public places.
We are witnessing road rage, separatism vandalism of public property, and a worrying aspect affecting you, everyone, racism and me.
People are becoming less and less tolerant of each other’s cultures, backgrounds. India is a diverse country and we need to have a general civic sense and respect others. Navneet Khakh, from Hoshiarpur says lack of manners, lack of respect for senior citizens, women in particular is predominant. Col Chamkaur Singh, from Calcutta points an interesting fact that we all suffer from loud speakers!
Be it in the Gurudwara , temples, or the jagraata wala’s, yes, please practice your religion, pay homage but blaring noises should be avoided. I am sure God resides in our heart and He doesn’t need blaring loud noises.
WE all are guilty, the dirt started somewhere, no one came and overnight deposited the refuse. Using ‘everybody does” attitude does not absolve you. Indians are very proud of the lack of display of civic sense. Be it the highflying businessman, the politician we all flaunt the unwritten rules.
Teach your child, this responsibility, another also is that we have precious natural resources do not demarcate, spoil them. Your undying love poem or carving your initials is not going to make your love stronger or immortal it will only last if you are true!
 According to an NRI Nancy Chawla Sarkaria ‘ Civic sense means understanding responsibilities and duties towards its town and country and not only voicing rights at every given opportunity. Civic sense is basic common sense making sure waste is properly disposed off, public property is preserved and traffic rules obeyed. People need to stop playing the blame game and mud slinging. Rich and poor are equally responsible. Poor people probably lack civic sense because they aren't aware or educated. The rich don't care about it because as long as all the rubbish is beyond their palatial homes it doesn't bother them and it's easier to just roll down their car windows and sling all the rubbish on to the roads Well off course what are the sweepers paid for!

The onus of keeping our surroundings starting from the street , to the city to the town to the state and the country so forth lies with us. It is our money being used by the government to build the infrastructures, be judicious and respect it . In the end your own pocket gets pinched in a roundabout fashion. Do not think , it is not your problem , it is !
We , welcome suggestions by the readers and hope we can start a campaign to live better and enjoy our surroundings rather than turn up  our noses in disgust .

Monday, August 19, 2013

Independence and its aftermath


Independence is an over rated word nowadays. I did a post independence survey amongst my social virtual networking circle as the mood on face book, my family, the social circle I live in and also the general public made me sit up and realize we are one hell of a disgruntled lot. And, it’s nothing to do with onions or the lack of it. We will complain even if everything is going well, a) because we have nothing better to do, b) as Indians we have an opinion on everything, even the Aliens landing in Ladakh c), try and stop us. In this we have a fatalistic attitude.
As always, Independence Day makes us one think, pause and remember but what is trending these days is disgust, an attitude where ‘we’ would be happier living under the British’s! This is something I can’t fathom. The endless arguments, the reasons given by oh! So logical minds just fly by my head. For me, it is as simple as that, how can one be happier living a slave? Imagine a scenario, where the Brits ruled us now, we would be second rate citizens, a country where they would decide what to do, we would live according to their segregation based on our color of the skin equated on the same level as dogs.
The best answer was from across the border by a smart intelligent lady, a wife of a seasoned politician, Meheriene Quershi, who sums it up as frightening!
Another NRI just said we would just come and go to England without visas.

Independence so earned is abused today, yes by our politicians, by the system, by the rulers who seduce us every five years by a lollipop of schemes thrown at us. I just want to ask, this did not happen overnight? Nor did it magically appear, neither did aliens attack us and change the system to corruption. This systematic degradation happened, because we let it be. It wasn’t overnight we are also guilty. The worst tribute being to nonchalantly saying oh we should have let them rule us. Why did countless martyrs die? What was the reason of their ideology? Were they plain stupid to die for our today?
Yes, the British gave us our infrastructure, the finest locomotives but they did to access our interiors; they did not do it for our good; it was for the betterment of the Empire , the Queen .
A new friend, a teacher in the US, and a daughter of a father who is in the Forces aptly sums up what I feel.. ‘Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children bought up easy let it slip away again , poor fools . And their grandchildren are once more slaves.” D.H. Lawrence . I feel she hits the nail on the head but to not read the writing on the wall is a bigger stupidity and a higher form of corruption.