I am a busy professional and cannot indulge in analyzing issues that do not require analyzing. We analyze things when we see trouble in the horizon, or afflictions here and now. Not when something healthy is going on. Do you consider English speaking interest in Guwahati unhealthy? I hope not. It is the international language. I think it is a good sign. English speaking ability in the NE is especially important, because it is the natural link between the 'seven-sisters'- Assamese or variations there to having been effectively destroyed as *the* natural link language, both by Assamese chauvinists and by the connivances of Hindi imperialists. My prediction here would be that there will emerge a new version of the Queen's language that could be called Engmese, or Asslish ( take your pick), which I hope, would be a good counter force to the Hinglish expansionist forces.
Alpana Baiti fears I am opposed to Hindi speaking . That requires some analyzing. I am not opposed to Hindi language learning per-se. It is always a good thing to learn languages other than your own, and the language of large numbers of people around or amongst you. It would be good for people in the NE to learn Chinese for example. But I think to emphasize Hindi *over* English, would warrant psycho-analysis and radical treatment. In other words, those who think Hindi is more important than English, ought to go get their heads examined. I refer to Gujarat in the seventies who banned English language instruction in the state--remember that? Heh-heh, wasn't that a bright idea? Somewhere along the line, I think that changed. I wonder why!
The other gripe I have about Hindi is the chauvinism of the Hindi partisans. They also act like they own the whole damn place and have the right to set the standards of nationalism, patriotism and other such self-serving ideals. That is why I advocate snubbing them. Some such snubbing is good--keeps the blood warm on cold days.
Now, please remember -- Raiz should not waste a busy professionals like myself's time by seeking treatment for trivial problems. Like calling your thoracic surgeon to treat a cough and common cold. I give my time freely out of my legendary generosity, when there is a serious mental health problem among my fellow men. Let us not abuse the privilege.
Good luck now. And god-speed to Guwahatians on their English speaking proficiency. I think all the NRA's would again find themselves at home when they visit Assam next time, and would not feel awkard to have to speak funny, outdated Assamese with the locals.
Dr.T, FLAS
Would like to hear Dr. Hatimuria's psycho analysis on this news about Guwahati's sudden interest in Spoken English. Dilip Deka, Houston TX �
Guwahati, Saturday, May 31, 2003
English speaking courses : how effective are they?
By Anujata D Talukdar
�GUWAHATI, May 30 � It�s a hot and sultry summer afternoon. But for the assorted group of people sitting behind desks in a small classroom in the heart of the city, the searing heat is but a small price to pay for what they are gaining�mastery over the English language, a sine qua non for life in the city. Yes, the craze for English language has reached the gateway to the North East. More and more people are enrolling themselves in the ever-increasing number of institutes running spoken English courses in the city. It is booming business and new �institutes� mushrooming up every month. The clientele includes college-going students, housewives, businessmen, government servants and even researchers in English.
�The increasing cosmopolitan character of the city, inroads of corporate lifestyles and the job market all! dictate that English be mastered, at least the spoken part of it. Naturally, there is a mad rush for the courses. Lucy Baishya of Rukminigaon, who started out just a month ago, already has 25 people enrolled in her course, which comes with a �guarantee.� According to her, her students feel it is very essential to be able to speak good English. �Though they may be well versed in the language, they want to overcome the hesitation they feel while speaking it,� she adds.
��There is increasing awareness in the state that the ability to converse in English holds the key to success in today�s world,� says a faculty member of Rocktabh�s Spoken English near Bora Service. The interest in the language can be gauged from the fact that during a workshop held here a couple of months ago, people came from places like Udalguri, Nagaon and Mirza to attend.�
��I think one has to be a fluent English speaker to fit into the modern society,� says a housewife attendi! ng one of the courses. In college, workplace, the pool bar or even parties, English is the language of success. �You can�t go far without it,� says Sanjay, a marketing executive who has suddenly realized that his inability to speak in English is putting the brakes on his career. The craze has caught on with the colleges in the city too. Several of them are starting spoken English classes to help their students. Faculty members are from outside also being invited to help the students prepare for future challenges. The Rocktabh faculty claims that though his institute�s course does not guarantee mastery over the language, it surely helps to �break the hitch. It builds their confidence,� he says.
�It was just 12 years ago, Hemanta Deka had started a spoken English class with just two students. Today, he handles eight batches of students. Each batch is made of 40 students during the peak season�the summer vacation time. The response was good enough for Deka to devote! himself to the job full time and shift to bigger premises. His Institute of Research and Management (IRM) at Pan Bazar is a beehive of activity.�
��Our people fear to speak in English,� Deka says. He should know, having been educated at a vernacular school himself.� �We should not expect too much since most of our students are from the vernacular medium,� he says, adding that his courses have been bringing in good results. �We don�t emphasise on unnecessary frills like some other institutes do,� says the author of a book on the subject. Deka�s 230-page book, Spoken English, has been vanishing off the shelves at bookstores at a brisk pace. �It has sold 8,000 copies in a single year,� he claims. Among Deka�s students are doctorate scholars, bureaucrats, newsreaders, actors, housewives, doctors, businessmen and lawyers, besides the usual college students. He says that even those who have completed their Masters degree in English come to his institute to p! olish their spoken English. His best student, however, was a 65-year old lady who completed the course successfully.
�Competition for students is stiff among the institutes running spoken English courses. Each is eager to run down the others. Each claim to offer the best-designed course. A look through the classified advertisements in local newspapers provides a picture of the competition. According to some observers, several of the institutes are no good since the teachers themselves are not properly trained for the job. Adding to the confusion is the courses offered by computer institutes who offer lessons in spoken English as a freebie.
�Though institutes are doing roaring business, there is another tribe of private tutors who also take home a tidy packet taking private lessons in homes. In fact, this sector is supposed to be more lucrative with fees going up to as much as Rs 10,000 for a two-month package with twice a week lessons. Among the custo! mers are the city�s elite who want to join the English speaking bandwagon. � �
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Personally I admire people from Punjab, surds ( not my word) or otherwise.They are energetic, hardworking and intelligent. They stand out and shine in every sphere of Indian society. So how can I be mean to such a community? The joke started in the Punjabi community and it came to me via my cousin whose husband is proud to be a Punjabi. I am not laughing at them but with them.
I see every ethnic group as a distinctive one with its own quirks.Stop and think of the quirks Hatimuriya community has. Can Dr. Tilok laugh at himself? Or does Dr. Tilok only laugh at others?
I am related to quite a few Punjabis by marriage and I like them. So don't worry about me. Loosen up and relax that big bone head (Hatir Mur) of yours, no pun intended.
Sirdarjik roykha kori dex uddhar nokorileu hobo.
Dil Deka
=========================================== Tilok Hatimuria <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hello Ms./Mr. Deka:
The word medicine caught my attention and I opened the e-mail. I am a busy doctor as you can imagine. So I don't have the time to indulge in trivia. But I try to keep up with new developments in the frontiers of medical science. I hoped to see some news on 'best' medicine, but I was led astray. In other words I have been had.
To have been had has not exactly been a new experience for me. It is not the
novelty of the experience that prodded me to write, inspite of my very busy
schedule. It is the fact of singling out people from Punjab for , well,
um--special recognition, that got me going here. You mention your cousin is
married to a fellar from Punjab. You did not specify if your cousin-in-law
is a Hindu, a rare form of Muslim ( there aren't many there I understand), a
Sikh--or 'surd' to you. But you must have had the very last in mind. In
other words implying that you couldn't be skewered for political
incorrectiness for taking on 'surds' by dint of your kinship to one, even
though it is probably hardly closer than elekor-pelek, kukuraswar-bhaginiek.
But who am I to judge that? So I won't. Instead let me take up the case of
your assumption that we, the readers, think 'surds' are dumb. Do you really
believe that though? Do you think your cousin-in-law's kin is dumb ?
Nepai-dei. Tenekua kotha likhene baru ? What do you think your cousin will
think of you if she finds out? It wo'nt be very nice if she questions your
judgement for marrying a Deka. (I presume you are married, and that you took
your hubbie's surname).Tsk, tsk! Another thing: If 'surds' are dumb, and
you are related to one; what does that make you out to be? Thought of that?
I have many Sikh friends. No, no--not here high up in the Ozarks. They are not too fond of the light air of the dizzying heights around here. They prefer heavier atmospheres. THey are pretty smart actually. Oh, one has to discount the occasional black-sheep, who would do strange things when the clock strikes 12. But by and large they are a smart lot. So the sleeping beauty on that plane, was just being normal. Doing what he does best--being his intelligent ( actually much too intelligent) self. Therefore the anecdote could not really be considered a joke. It is just a csae of faulty conjecture, caused by faulty intelligence ( as in miltary intelligence or the CIA).
That is about all Iahd to say this evening. Please accept my long distance regards from the highlands of the Ozarks.
Yours truly,
Dr Tilok Hatimuria, FLAS
>My cousin who is married to a guy from Punjab has sent me this. Dil Deka >
>
>A Sardar and an American are seated next to each other
>on a flight from Los Angeles to New York. The american asks if he would
>like to play a fun game.
>
>
>
>The surd, tired, just wants to take a nap . So he politely declines and
>rolls over to the window to catch a few winks.
>
>
>
>The American persists and explains that the game is easy and a lot of fun.
>He says, "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay
>me five dollars, and vice versa."
>
>
>
>
>Again, he declines and tries to get some sleep.
>The American, now agitated, says, "Okay, if you don't know the
>answer, you pay me $5,and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you
>$500."This catches the surd's attention and, figuring there will be no end
>to this torment, agrees to the game.
>
>
>
>The American asks the first question: "What's the
>distance from the earth to the moon?" The surd doesn't say a word, reaches
>into hiswallet,pulls out a $5.00 bill, and hands it to the American
>
>
>
>.Okay,"says the American, "your turn".
>
>
>
>
>He asks, "What goes up a hill with three legs and
>comes down with four legs?"
>The American, puzzled, takes out his laptop computer & searches
>all his preferences...... no answer. He taps into his
>modem and searches the Internet and the Library of Congress... no answer.
>Frustrated, he
>sends e-mails to all his friends and co workers but to
>no avail.
>After an hour, he wakes the surd and hands him
>$500.
>
>
>
>The surd thanks him and turns back to get some more sleep. The American,
>who is more than a little miffed, stirs the Sardar and asks, "Well, what's
>the answer?"Without a word, the Sardar reaches into his wallet, hands the
>american $5, and goes back to sleep.
>
>
>
> And you thought sardars were dumb !
>
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