Mother tounge !!!!!

There was this joke in school – why is our basic language called the mother tongue and not the father tongue? The reply – because our fathers seldom get a chance to use them! Jokes apart, the utterances of Balasaheb Thakarey need to be taken in the right spirit. He is trying to pass on the message that those who live in places where they normally do not hail from should take the trouble to learn the local dialects....

I know how to speak in Punjabi but rather I'd say I am not comfortable with my own mother language...I have had many friends who don't like to use their mother tounges !!they are just scared of being shamed !!!!

Like the Punjabies– they should necessarily know Punjabi; those living in Kolkata should know Bengali; those residing in Chennai Tamil. This is more so because we are witnessing a gradual decline in the love for our own languages – any current movie is a heady mix of English and colloquial Mumbai style Hindi or some stupid slangs of Punjabi ..merjani Khasma nu khaani!!!. Youngsters find it more convenient to speak with one another and express themselves in English; the trend is visible even in the soaps on TV. Whether it is a saga about the saas-bahu or a soap involving teenagers or collegians, the same trend is evident. This is true not only for Mumbai,Punjab,Chennai and the Maharastrians and punjabies but for even Kolkata and the Bengalis – one of the culprits is a growing fascination for the Western culture. This is spreading due to the attraction for degrees that assure one of a safe passage to the shores of America or, in some cases, Europe and even Australia and down under. Job opportunities have opened up newer avenues and for such endeavors to succeed, it is essential to have a good knowledge of English.

In the bargain, our mother tongues are taking a beating – My father is Punjabi, I grown up in Rishikesh –I m mor at home in English & Hindi rather than in Punjbabi,I feels like a fish out of water when I am with my family members in Punjab/Haryana. Not only me but there are others like me all around us. We cannot blame them for not being to appreciate the rich heritage that lies entrapped in the boundaries of our mother tongues...

I hve a very valid point and, while all of us have certainly picked up some of the local language to be able to converse with shopkeepers and the maid servant, it will take a lot of effort and will power to force the issue.