English 2 Winglish

I don’t think the real threat to is the blown out of proportion drug addiction theory that the government in power or the opposition tries to fob us as the problem with Punjab. Ok, after you all settle down and catch a breath after shouting at me, the real problem is the mushrooming of these fly by night, shady operators who sell the phoren dream to the youth promising greener, richer pastures abroad promised with money and a permanent residency abroad and then immigration for the family and a deliverance from the poverty in Punjab.

Stop and consider, why is this happening? What has happened that is making everyone pledge their negligible savings, there gold and anything they own to finance these educational schemes. In a state where English isn’t taught in the government schools till the third standard and they have guides to translate, mug the chapters and answer by rote, the youth goes bewildered to a fancy English sounding name course center where a young attractive girl confuses, confounds and sells the dream.

I am a witness to this. The names are all a play on winning the ultimate dream. It starts with scoring high in the band with (not to be confused with music or anything else) to secure admission in a college university and then to apply for a visa and get this and fly away. This is sold as a complete package and the children get sucked in thinking this is the way they will be modern and can secure the elusive admission. The names are bizarre, from English 2 Winglish, Sophia’s English, The Daily Planet, English Planet and the popular ones are all a subtle play on pun, psychological to impress you.

I face this situation on a daily basis where young boys and girls are dropping a year of college to join these institutions, crash courses and change their fortune. It’s not a play of dice that you score a six and go forward in life. Till we don’t live in the present, and start changing the educational system, roping in MNC’s, proving we are the agricultural provider to the country or again harping that we suffered because of militancy isn’t going to get us anywhere.

You know, I wish we would all suck it and stop living in a false Punjabi bravado; we all need to change and change soon. We missed the bus last decade, everything is spiraling downwards and catching the flight to the west isn’t going to change anything. How do I convince them not to study in these concise, capsulated, crash courses that just promise them everything? A change, in identity, a passport to the west, its glamor, the green bills, an escape from a drudgery and despair. They want an escapism from the poverty that drags them down , does not allow them an identity , forever bound by chains of caste and creed that simmers discontent.

I mean , when are we going to be free of these chains, they are in fact getting more marked, differences are so rampant and we fight over the silliest reasons. And, don’t even get me started on what it means to be a woman, a cow has more dignity , respect and is revered.

Teaching , talking and walking English isn’t going to deliver us to manna , nor are the aliens coming to save us , they skipped and went to save to the other galaxy .

I have a motley crew of girls who want to better their skills and I don’t have the heart to say no as anything is better than being killed, maimed , abused , debased , and just aborted for being a female and I know you feel jaded as you read this, but maybe a light may reach the cracks and we would be the change we need . Reading Rumi wont help , till we start applying his readings to .