My two bit: Tend to agree with the notion that Bangla losing out to Hindi in Kolkata on all counts. But living in Delhi briefly has taught me the hard truth that Hindi is important once you cross Barakar (that is Bengal's last railway station, followed by Dhanbad is Bihar). I had to learn Hindi to survive in Delhi. Bengali, though second largest spoken language in India and ahead of Hindi in total number of speakers over the globe (Thank you populous Bangladesh!), is not recognized anywhere. So, our kids knowing Hindi is a boon, bot a bane. It'll help them survive. And about reviving Bangla as a language, the first thing one does is behave like a Tamilian in Tamil Nadu - won't reply to anyone speaking Hindi here in Bengal. But there are two things which will make this an impossible scenario: All the economy of Bengal/Bihar/Orissa/Assam is controlled by Marwaris, all the malls and hang out places, all top restaurants (barring Anjan Chatterjee's) are owned and controlled by a Hindi speaking population. the economic reality will make it impossible to survive in a businessplace speaking Bengali. Secondly, we, people of West Bengal, don't have pride in our language. Learn from our Bangladeshi friends. They are so haughty and protective about their language! In face, the non-Bengalies of Kolkata are far more proud of Kolkata than the resident Bengalies. In Delhi, our team in office had two Bengalies, one from Kolkata and one from Delhi. Both bad-mouthed Kolkata, spoke Hindi with others, and joined discussions eagerly on Bollywood movies. Then, a certain Vikash Sharma joined the team and the first thing he said to me when we frist met was, "DADA AMI KOLKATAR BANGALI CHELEY. SBIBPUR ER CHOKRA!" He sang Rabindrasangeet at the office function, Fought tooth and nail for Kolkata and was so proud of our beloved city. Incidentially, he was a Rajasthani Brahmin from Jaipur originally. Maybe, in Kolkata he will be called a MARWARI (wrongly). My take is, till Bengalies of West Bengal become economically independant and take pride in speaking their language, and love Kolkata in spite of her warts, we will always be fading away as a race.
Tuesday 5 March 2013
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