Words have always fascinated me.I love reading..and I can spend the rest of my life at a library.But all through my life ,I have suffered a language bias.I love the English language not because of its complexity,but because of the amount of reading material which is available.Sanskrit is the most complex and most advanced language compared to other languages all over the world(Latin etc).As a kid I remember trying to learn different languages.But all through my life in India I have been continuously taken beliefs from the outer world about the superiority of one language over other.This is not the case because of its inherent nature but because of colonial and financial constructs which run the fortunes of everyone.I do agree that Britishers colonised most of the 19 th century world and made/sometimes forced English down our throat.It has its basic advantages.Indian's.... because of the English language can survive in any part of the world.Other countries which did not have a colonial invasion have a disadvantage of having their native language being their official language.So to migrate into other countries everyone has to learn English or other Latin derived languages like French,Spanish etc.
Language is a tool for communication which can help us foster relations.But the most important use of language is identifying our roots.We lose a critical part of ourselves when we leave out the important factors which our ancestors used.No way am I suggesting a linguistic divide between different countries and different States/regions.The exercise of learning the native script will be a archaeological/historical exercise which will make us look at ourselves and connect the dots in retrospect.
Sometimes,it will help us advance the use of native language and pass it on ,thereby helping it from extinction.We can never learn about our identities through force or compulsion.Exploration of language and its use in finding our roots needs a environment of respect and admiration for other languages.My love for democracy and abolition of censorship on tyrannical grounds makes me a student of various languages.I am presently trying to learn the written script for Tamil.My next project is to re-learn Sanskrit( so that I can read ancient texts)
7 comments:
I wanted to share my experience with Tamil language. I have read Tamil grammar. When I underwent a course in advanced Tamil, I understood that it had a much sophisticated grammar than I imagined. I would certainly need to study Sanskrit and Latin in future. And, yes linguistic studies have connection to truth and reality.
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Democracy is only an experiment. It crystallizing into a way of life can only be detrimental. It is certainly a better move by humanity than "king rule and tyranny. The biggest democracy in the World, India faces a lot of complications in its experiment. Just like spiritual seekers experimenting different things in life, democracy is another experiment. I cannot believe in it. Sages like J.Krishmamurti have talked a lot on it. In a recent reading, I found UG krishnamuti to be saying a similar stuff. I find these two sages to be telling the truth, even though I am not sure if their hold on other issues are the same.
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Professor Noam Chomsky talks about his trust in people, as opposed to intellectuals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=B031k790ZWU&feature=related
But the operation of democracy can be good only when both state and people function well together.
When Govts fail people fail to question even though they do not directly contribute to mess. But Prof. Chomsky in part 1 end mentions how the mass population has become aware of the corrupted Govts irresponsible acts. That is a positive thing to have evolved.
After Russell, Dr.Chomsky has been a philosopher of right choice. In linguistics, he succeeds the Wittgenstein era.
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The fact is that its humanitarians like Bertrand Russell who went to jail and Chomsky,who had been talking for more than 50 years who need to be appreciated when compared against the humility of Einstein. Quest for truth needs courage than humility sometimes.
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I was reading your posting on Dr. Abdul Kalam. I would rather say its people like him who must be brought to justice. For the education that he had, its not great that his action has triggered who whole of Indian sub-continent into a tense state of political affair. Einstein at least did not get involved in Governments decisions. Whats the use being such a highly educated person? I am not match to him in his studies (science and math) but I think I have more common sense than him. If I were there, I would oppose the Governments idea about destructive weapons rather than give vague reasons for such an act. We need people like Russell, Chomsky, Jiddu/UG krishmanurtis who had been clear speakers for humanity. There is "ZERO" humility in Kalam. Its all Rhetoric. Not to disturb your thoguhts. I do not intend to.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVlZ0GAA77w&NR=1
Yet another example of courage, Arundhati Roy. Only these people can make a difference so that mankind can relieve itself from its self imposed crutches and have some time to focus on better stuff (like spirituality). I am not sure if many realize that the "Indian" unity is at stake, the so-called nationalism.
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Other side of the coins above:
Being in conflict with an ideology is being in conflict with oneself.
--JK
-Arvind
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