Have you ever experienced hatred from others for speaking English ?
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True, but that's only because the Brits succeeded in their Genocide in Australia, but where forced out before they could complete their campaign in India. I still have a subconscious hatred towards Brits, don't know why, even though I know that the current generation is not responsible for their previous ones.
sid_donnydarko
Contributor
The truth is that the rest of the world(think developed/native-English nations) don't really care about what goes on in India. If the whole world were one big party, then we'd be the wierdo's who never get invited. And instead of brushing them off, we whine about being left out. In short, the rest of the world does not see us as a force to be reckoned with. China realized this and unlike us pulled up their socks deciding to take the game to them and playing by their rules. Straya and Britain have always been at loggerheads. But they never dismiss each other like they'd do if they were compared to us. And this is because the Aussies have more in common with a Britisher (more than they're willing to admit). Some might even call their's a strong sporting rivalry. The same cannot be said when we compare a Aussie/Brit and an Indian. This massive difference results in our outward hatred towards anything that's even remotely related to the English language. The situation is so bad in our country that we've taken color discrimination to a whole new level; I was once asked to "return" to London while travelling using local transportation because I was fair-skinned. Its as if the guy forgot that Indians are also fair-skinned. :scared14: My earlier post further adds to yours that India is not seen as an equal in the World, not because of our incompatible differences BUT because we are in complete denial about how petty/backward our culture and our approach to life is.
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:rofl:You speak proper English and the other guy asks what it is that your parents do? Thanks dude! Even though my sides hurt, you really made my day!tumari mummy papa kya karte hai?
EDIT: My colleague thanked you tooThough yet to experience discrimination for speaking in English, I have experienced several looks of disdain (and a few times, disgust) that I don't know the regional language here. It's a touchy subject with most people. And I am talking about educated people who have lived most of their life in the city. Especially during my my college years. It is around 25 kms away from Pune and most of my classmates were from nearby local towns and smaller cities. To be fair, I have met some wonderful people who have spent most of their life in small towns and still accept me as I am. But they are very few in number.
However, I do remember in my younger schooling years (classes II to V), some of my classmates used to ask me whether me and my parents had come from abroad.
Not blowing my own trumpet; this was only because my dad, being in the Army, got posted to remote locations. And this was much before the advent of cable TV and the internet. In retrospect, I can understand that those kids must have rarely heard/seen people speaking in English.
However, I do remember in my younger schooling years (classes II to V), some of my classmates used to ask me whether me and my parents had come from abroad.
Not blowing my own trumpet; this was only because my dad, being in the Army, got posted to remote locations. And this was much before the advent of cable TV and the internet. In retrospect, I can understand that those kids must have rarely heard/seen people speaking in English.
Zinc
Explorer
To add to the discussion, I have faced many situations where people in foreign countries (especially those where the native tongue is not English) were much surprised to find that we Indians spoke to each other in English instead of the Indian language.
This has usually happened with me in South American countries like Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, etc since locals there usually speak in Portuguese or Spanish among themselves.
This has usually happened with me in South American countries like Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, etc since locals there usually speak in Portuguese or Spanish among themselves.
This is usually a forerunner of the fact: That most outsiders are not aware of how many distinct languages India has within it self, and how it is a fluid demographic. They consider it unified by Hindi or "the Indian language". English is cross regional for many, here in India. Americans are quite gape-awed when they realize this, cause their whole country (almost a continent) is generalized and functional on English (well Spanish has come in due to immigration), but still primarily English. Probably Europeans would be soft on this; cause they are used to multi-lingual regions, example Switzerland.
The other thing is, this insecurity/dislike for English isn't limited to your average rural/small town folk. Even people from rural areas (who have high amounts of native intelligence) who study at institutes like the IITs or AIIMS have this issue.
Many people who come from small towns and villages have a high amount of native/natural/inherent/genetic intelligence (a lot more than mine in many cases) which allows them to do things like Mathematics very well. You see many people from rural areas getting into some of the top institutes in the country.That is, of course, commendable. The thing is, when you're living in a 21st century society, it's your ability to behave in a civilised, well mannered way with due respect to other people's way of life (as long as their way of life doesn't interfere with someone else's) that matters in day to day life and not your ability to solve an incredibly complex partial differential equation.
Typical Indian small town mentality goes like this : You're a show off if you speak English. You're uncultured if you (read women) wear jeans and t-shirts. Your attire is to blame for you getting raped. You're spoilt if you have a girlfriend/boyfriend.
I've seen so many doctors and surgeons (as my dad is one) who, despite having years of scientific training in medicine, detest the English language and even tease others for using it. This applies to people from other professions too.
In fact many of these people use their ego (the ego that comes from getting into a premier institute) and appeal to their authority/credentials to diss English speakers.
Many people who come from small towns and villages have a high amount of native/natural/inherent/genetic intelligence (a lot more than mine in many cases) which allows them to do things like Mathematics very well. You see many people from rural areas getting into some of the top institutes in the country.That is, of course, commendable. The thing is, when you're living in a 21st century society, it's your ability to behave in a civilised, well mannered way with due respect to other people's way of life (as long as their way of life doesn't interfere with someone else's) that matters in day to day life and not your ability to solve an incredibly complex partial differential equation.
Typical Indian small town mentality goes like this : You're a show off if you speak English. You're uncultured if you (read women) wear jeans and t-shirts. Your attire is to blame for you getting raped. You're spoilt if you have a girlfriend/boyfriend.
I've seen so many doctors and surgeons (as my dad is one) who, despite having years of scientific training in medicine, detest the English language and even tease others for using it. This applies to people from other professions too.
In fact many of these people use their ego (the ego that comes from getting into a premier institute) and appeal to their authority/credentials to diss English speakers.
sid_donnydarko
Contributor
The intelligent ones(irrespective of background) who detest English speakers and misuse the respect that their professions bestows, in-reality are people who simply cracked the test/exam pattern. Ask the same to explain a concept related to their field with relevant analogies and you'll see right through. Contrary to the popular belief, Character and Intelligence don't go hand in hand. At least, not always.
Now the question one must ask is, how do we protect ourselves against all this bullying? Every language in this country has its groups and organisations trying to promote it and talking about how other languages are snubbing it. No one defends their right to preserve and speak English.
flash23
Discoverer
Behave as per the situation. before initiating conversation just gauge what the other person might be comfortable to converse in.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
flash23
Discoverer
Time will heal everything, may be not in our life time.
Hopefully their kids will turn out better. This is the only way out I can see.
"Time does not heal, doing things does. When you do nothing things just remain the way they were" - House M.D.
malhotraraul
Galvanizer
just want to say what artikle said : it is logical and courteous to answer a question in the language that it is asked & I really don't care who recognizes what, when your question paper is in English you answer in English.
and again I want to say what artikle said : I don't want to get into this discussion either.
LOL. Why would vicodin advocate alcohol instead of itself ?
Anyway, I don't want to derail this thread.
This is common in most of the places...Few uneducated would not like you to talk in English..and on the other part the well-educated may also dont like if you speak in Hindi..Language really doesn't matters..it depends all upon how you have been brought up...but the thinking of people is so tough that they rarely accept this fact..but yes he physically threatened you this is so unbelievable..you should have complained about it..was he some dada or gunda(bad boys) of your school???
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