Monthly Archives: April 2011
English Spoken Here
I have been under a total misconception of the facts when it comes to English speaking Indians. Based on the British colonial legacy of this country, I have always been under the impression that the English speaking skills in this country run broad and deep, or at least broader and deeper than would have been otherwise. I have also believed that this has contributed to the growth of trade over the past few decades (I still believe this). Think of the $70 billion IT industry that exists in India today. Surely one of the key growth factors had to do with language and communication? This, despite the complaints I hear from American friends about the trouble they have understanding (and vice versa, I’m sure) their customer support representative for American Express (substitute this for pretty much anything else) – based in Bangalore.
Having gone to a “convent” school myself, I learned to speak some close form of the Queen’s English; this has become slightly tarnished during my years of living in the US, despite my best efforts. 😉 As far as written English goes, I believe America actually improved it. Now, I use “color” instead of “colour” removing an unnecessary letter in the process, and lightening my load, so to speak.
In any case, as many other immigrants from India have experienced, people in the US are surprised when I say I am from India and it’s all based on this: “My, but your English is so good!” And it takes me very little time to reply – “That’s because the British left a legacy behind in India and I was one of millions that grew up with it”.
So, it really surprised me to read some new statistics on the English language. These were based on an English proficiency study that was conducted by an educational organization called Education First who ranked forty countries according to their English language skills. Here is what I learned in a nutshell:
- The proficiency level for India is defined as “Very Low” – this at least is understandable given its large population and the relatively low percentage of fluent English speakers. But, here’s what really surprised me:
- India ranks lower than China (also rated as “very low”) in English proficiency!
- Due to the inconsistent meaning of “proficiency”, the British council stated that there was a very wide range of between 50 and 350 million English-proficient people in India in 2010.
- What is even more surprising is that in the same year, China had between 250-350 million English “learners”.
- According to this organization, China is poised to surpass India in the number of English speakers in the coming years, if it has not done so already!
Aside from being surprised by these numbers, I was fascinated by how quickly China has caught up. I believe that is what happens when a nation has a vision and a grand plan.
The other surprises for me were that Malaysia was the only Asian country rated as having High Proficiency (it also was the top ranked Asian country) and that both Japan and Korea (rated Moderate) surpassed India. That really surprised me probably because I was thinking about Japanese and Korean immigrants in the U.S. But, apparently, back in their home countries, the government has placed a strong emphasis on English study. Why? To benefit from the global economy that increasingly relies on English as the language of trade. Take a look:
Another aspect that I have noticed in India is that the English that is taught and learned in school today has less of a feel of the Queen’s English, and more of a feel of something that is uniquely Indian. The accent certainly is less British and more Indian. I would guess that this is just a natural transition, as the generational gap increases since the year that British left India. Would it be unpatriotic of me to say, I prefer the language my generation was taught? So be it, but I do.
What I still can’t get over is the map above! I believe that I was (along with others?) just a bit too smug in my assumptions. Time to correct them, no?
Hanuman’s gift?
One day in the year 2008, during my first sojourn in Bombay, I was going through a particularly trying time. During this period, I happened to be spending a Sunday afternoon with some new friends in Mumbai, unaware that my stress levels were evident to others, if they cared to look. One of my friends, perceptive and with the pretext of showing me some new sides of Mumbai, suggested we go visit a temple he knew about.
Now, I am far from being a religious person. That’s just not my thing. At best, I am agnostic. At worst, well, I am worse. But, given my situation at the time and my general low frame of mind, I agreed.
When I think Hindu temple, and especially when my friend tells me about a “famous temple”, I imagine something quite elaborate and perhaps even a bit ostentatious. I guess that comes from too much emphasis on Tirupati when growing up. I was really in for a surprise, because the quaint and simple place that my friend took me to was nothing like I had imagined.
Later I was to discover that this temple is called Shree Ghanteshwar Hanuman Mandir. It is located next to a small park in the wonderfully green and tree-rich suburb of Khar.
Legend goes that people seek the blessing of Lord Hanuman here. When their wish is fulfilled, they return to the temple and offer Hanuman a bell (thus “Ghanteshwar” which literally means lord of bells). Therefore, thousands of densely packed brass bells of various sizes hang above and around the temple, which in and of itself is a modest sized place, no more than a large verandah. A few of the bells shine like they have been recently hung, while many more are crusted and darkened with time.
So, on that afternoon in the monsoon of 2008, I visited this temple for the very first time. Somehow, perhaps given my low spirits at the time, I felt a sense of peace and calm, and yes, even strength come upon me around this place. It was partly my imagination, and looking back, I am also certain that it was caused by wanting badly that something, anything, help to mitigate my current troubles. Since I had made the effort and the trip to the temple, I took the trouble to also offer up a prayer and a wish.
Fast forward to late 2010. Times have changed for me in a couple of short years. It is time to visit the temple again. Because it does not matter how much skepticism I may have for the rituals of religion. When I made a wish, I also made a promise. When the wish was fulfilled, it was time to fulfill a commitment. Whether I believed or not.
I headed off to a market in Khar where I was amazed to find shops that actually stocked and sold the bells specifically for the disciples of Ghanteshwar. They didn’t blink an eye when I asked for one. I bought a “nice” sized brass bell – neither too big and obnoxious nor too small and trivial. It was just the right size. In my eyes.
Then, I set off for the temple once again, this time with a different friend (here’s the map btw, in case you are ever in the neighborhood).
We stand in the long line to get to the priest. Behind us is an older gentleman. He’s in a talkative mood. Plus he has spied the bell in my hand, so he is curious. He says, he’s not a religious person and he doesn’t really believe in all these rituals. He adds that he never visits temples. But, he says, this is the exception. Don’t ask me why, he says, but every time I have asked for anything here, I have been granted the wish. So, I can’t stop visiting. He gestures curiously at the bell. So, he asks, same for you, haan? Trying not to be too emphatic about it, I do nod in a fashion. Then we move forward towards the priest so that he can take the bell I have brought with me out of my hands. With that, he will not only take the weight of the bell off my hands, but the weight of obligation off my mind.
Somehow, though, something tells me that this is not my last visit to see this Hanuman. Next time, will my excuse be that I was just passing through and decided to stop? Or that I simply love Khar? Or…? No doubt, I will find something creative to justify the trip.
Photos by: vishalphotography.com
The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 