Subhash Chandra Bose for the Bharat Ratna
Netaji is the only leader I would honour. The rest lied through their teeth and broke all their promises and carried out nefarious activities in their private lives. Nehru was a womaniser and Gandhi slept naked with young girls. If it was not for Netaji, the British would never leave India, as they were scared that India would follow the principal of Netaji, who urged an armed rebellion against Britain.– Ignatius Fernandes
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With all the perks associated with the Ratna and especially because of the prestige it carries, the least that should be demanded, not expected, of the recipients is that they should not sell themselves for commercials. Is Tendulkar listening? – Usha Subramanian
Shunning the Upper House
Regarding the article "What Sachin and Rekha are missing by bunking Rajya Sabha sessions", Tendulkar could have contributed a lot to sporting fraternities in India, by initiating discussions. He seems to be preoccupied elsewhere. – MM Singh
The Hindi-English language debate
This comment is in reference to your article, "Why purists like Batra are Hindi’s biggest enemy". I am a product of a convent school and I enjoyed the benefits that come from studying in such an institution. However I feel that neither Japan nor China study technology in English and still do very well. However Hindi does not have adequate vocabulary to teach technology. I do not know about other fields but the first order of priority is to develop a useful dictionary of Hindi words that are easily understood. "Patraghuset" is not a good substitute for post box.– Harish Dalal
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The author is absolutely right in extolling the virtues of flexibility and borrowing. Unlike bureaucratic diktats, these characteristics ensure the longevity and use of a language. I was reminded of an article by the late PL Deshpande, who, in explaining the declining use of Marathi, wrote that until the language absorbs the use of strange idioms brought to it by speakers of other language, it could not hope to survive for long, at least not as a thriving, widely-spoken and multipurpose language. English, he proposed, had staked its claim by allowing non-native speakers to express themselves the way they wanted. He illustrated these points with two requests (not reproduced verbatim, but you get the gist). "As my eyes have come [literal translation of the Marathi phrase dole aale, which signifies conjunctivitis], I cannot come to school." The second request was, "As my dead father will be coming to dinner tonight [a description of the ritual of shraaddh, I have to leave office early".
But, of course, English, as a language, has no agency to allow such usage. It was the English speakers, who muddled through such confusing, even shocking, appeals and statements, which in the process made the language seem accessible and usable, increasing adoption rates. I am not denying the colonial foundations of the spread of English. I am just saying that without patience and flexibility and a willingness to adapt, a language cannot succeed at winning hearts and minds. Hindi cannot be forced down the throats of Indians in an effort to make it the "National" language, whatever that means. Thank you for the article. – Mukti Khaire
Comments section please!
I love your site. It is absolutely the kind of commentary Indian online publications need. But i have one very big beef. Why is the comments section missing? Though I understand that nobody likes trolls, conversations are awesome. Maybe comments with moderation can still be acceptable. Can this be given a thought? – Shibani S
Celebrating Sri Aurobindo on Independence Day
There is probably another explanation for how 15 August popped up as the date for India's Independence in Mountbatten's mind. Sri Aurobindo had declared that he would retire from the freedom struggle, as the supreme divine has assured him that India will be free. The day will be a very significant day of his life, as August 15 marks Sri Aurobindo's birthday.– Kusum Kapila
* * *
England's dictatorship continued even after they became powerless. Lord Mountabatten decided the date according to his convenience. Why didn't Gandhiji decide the date? Zindabad.– Raman Chona
The melting pot of Hindustani music
Regarding "Recalling the Sufi traces in Hindustani music", you have completely ignored the old and exceedingly malodorous tradition of seeking to deny the Muslim contribution to Hindustani music. Just look at the Ph.D. theses that have been churned out. Look also at the fact that in the last three decades or so, Hindu religious imagery has come to dominate the words of khayal compositions performed. Gods and goddesses everywhere. – Mukul Dube
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letters@scroll.in.
Netaji is the only leader I would honour. The rest lied through their teeth and broke all their promises and carried out nefarious activities in their private lives. Nehru was a womaniser and Gandhi slept naked with young girls. If it was not for Netaji, the British would never leave India, as they were scared that India would follow the principal of Netaji, who urged an armed rebellion against Britain.– Ignatius Fernandes
* * *
With all the perks associated with the Ratna and especially because of the prestige it carries, the least that should be demanded, not expected, of the recipients is that they should not sell themselves for commercials. Is Tendulkar listening? – Usha Subramanian
Shunning the Upper House
Regarding the article "What Sachin and Rekha are missing by bunking Rajya Sabha sessions", Tendulkar could have contributed a lot to sporting fraternities in India, by initiating discussions. He seems to be preoccupied elsewhere. – MM Singh
The Hindi-English language debate
This comment is in reference to your article, "Why purists like Batra are Hindi’s biggest enemy". I am a product of a convent school and I enjoyed the benefits that come from studying in such an institution. However I feel that neither Japan nor China study technology in English and still do very well. However Hindi does not have adequate vocabulary to teach technology. I do not know about other fields but the first order of priority is to develop a useful dictionary of Hindi words that are easily understood. "Patraghuset" is not a good substitute for post box.– Harish Dalal
* * *
The author is absolutely right in extolling the virtues of flexibility and borrowing. Unlike bureaucratic diktats, these characteristics ensure the longevity and use of a language. I was reminded of an article by the late PL Deshpande, who, in explaining the declining use of Marathi, wrote that until the language absorbs the use of strange idioms brought to it by speakers of other language, it could not hope to survive for long, at least not as a thriving, widely-spoken and multipurpose language. English, he proposed, had staked its claim by allowing non-native speakers to express themselves the way they wanted. He illustrated these points with two requests (not reproduced verbatim, but you get the gist). "As my eyes have come [literal translation of the Marathi phrase dole aale, which signifies conjunctivitis], I cannot come to school." The second request was, "As my dead father will be coming to dinner tonight [a description of the ritual of shraaddh, I have to leave office early".
But, of course, English, as a language, has no agency to allow such usage. It was the English speakers, who muddled through such confusing, even shocking, appeals and statements, which in the process made the language seem accessible and usable, increasing adoption rates. I am not denying the colonial foundations of the spread of English. I am just saying that without patience and flexibility and a willingness to adapt, a language cannot succeed at winning hearts and minds. Hindi cannot be forced down the throats of Indians in an effort to make it the "National" language, whatever that means. Thank you for the article. – Mukti Khaire
Comments section please!
I love your site. It is absolutely the kind of commentary Indian online publications need. But i have one very big beef. Why is the comments section missing? Though I understand that nobody likes trolls, conversations are awesome. Maybe comments with moderation can still be acceptable. Can this be given a thought? – Shibani S
Celebrating Sri Aurobindo on Independence Day
There is probably another explanation for how 15 August popped up as the date for India's Independence in Mountbatten's mind. Sri Aurobindo had declared that he would retire from the freedom struggle, as the supreme divine has assured him that India will be free. The day will be a very significant day of his life, as August 15 marks Sri Aurobindo's birthday.– Kusum Kapila
* * *
England's dictatorship continued even after they became powerless. Lord Mountabatten decided the date according to his convenience. Why didn't Gandhiji decide the date? Zindabad.– Raman Chona
The melting pot of Hindustani music
Regarding "Recalling the Sufi traces in Hindustani music", you have completely ignored the old and exceedingly malodorous tradition of seeking to deny the Muslim contribution to Hindustani music. Just look at the Ph.D. theses that have been churned out. Look also at the fact that in the last three decades or so, Hindu religious imagery has come to dominate the words of khayal compositions performed. Gods and goddesses everywhere. – Mukul Dube