MY TRYST WITH HINDI LANGUAGE LEARNING

From Sampath’s Desk:

 

MY TRYST WITH HINDI LANGUAGE LEARNING

World Hindi Day - हिन्दी दिवस - 10 January

 

Official Language - हिन्दी दिवस - 14 September 

 

As a schoolboy of THE KELLETT (Triplicane-Chennai) I was studying Hindi as the third language in the 1960’s. Even though most of my classmates were not serious, invariably cut the Hindi classes and whiled away time outside the classroom roaming here and there, I was one among a few boys who studied Hindi seriously. In fact, I sincerely prepared for and wrote the Hindi examinations throughout although they were only on elementary aspects (the marks in which however were of no consequence for one’s promotion or ranking), some others evinced scant interest. They sometimes even simply reproduced the questions as answers. However, our Hindi master didn’t bother much about it.

 

I always believed, “Knowledge of additional language(s) other than the mother-tongue gets you a much wider world to feel at home. In short, it helps widen one's knowledge horizons, scale further heights in vocabulary and discover new worlds of acquaintances. Even in natural course, influence of one language on another is inexorable. It only presupposes dependence of one section of society / people on another.”

 

While so, Hindi as a third language was abolished by the Government of Tamil Nadu with a change of regime in 1967. But, as one keen to learn the language, I used to think, “Isn’t knowledge of an additional language an asset in one's life?” I said to myself, “Let me continue to learn it.” At that time there was anti-Hindi agitation going on in Tamil Nadu. But, I was always for learning the additional language.

 

Thus, even when I came out of the corridors of the school, I was somewhat equipped in Hindi to read and write. But I could only speak a little. With fire in me, I continued to learn the language through Hindi Prachar Sabha for some time and also by reading some elementary / rudimentary Hindi books. I purchased English-Hindi and Hindi-English dictionaries (which are still available with me) and made use of them. I started listening to English News bulletins on Radio/TV followed by Hindi versions so that I could pick up Hindi vocabulary. At that stage I thought seeing Hindi films would improve my spoken language. Thus I started seeing Hindi films even during the formative stages of my Hindi learning, examples being – Aradhana (1969-Little Anand), Bobby (1973-Midland), Yadoan Ki Baaraat (1973-Star), Kabhi Kabhi (1976-Shanthi), Sholay (1975-Satyam), Choti Si Baat (1976-Anna) and Naagin (1976-Star) – to mention just a few, among others. That certainly enhanced and enlarged my understanding, learning process, and speaking ability in that language to an extent.

 

After joining the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department (subsequently Department of Telecommunications and then BSNL) in 1974, I joined Hindi classes – Prabodh, Praveen and Pragya - and passed them with distinction. The PRAVEEN course further emboldened and made me comfortable in the spoken language.

 

Hindi knowledge thus gained helped me converse with my co-employees in the Technical and Development Circle (a pan-India Telecom Wing) hailing from different parts of the country working in the Southern Regional Office with headquarters at Chennai. We had to speak to the personnel in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (headquarters office) situated in the Hindi-speaking heartland. The language command I had came in handy for me to converse with them. And,  while working in Tamilnadu Telecom Circle Office, I felt comfortable interacting with people at our Headquarters Office/Corporate Office at New Delhi and other Circles/Offices in the Hindi-speaking states. I also gained friendship of many colleagues working in the Hindi heartland. And whenever visited places - for training courses, Association Conferences, official tours or private trips outside my home state especially the Hindi mainland, I felt at home conversing with people at office or outside. I had also sincerely participated in competitions held as part of the Hindi Fortnight (pakwaada) in our office on many occasions winning prizes at times.

 

I have been an avid and ardent listener of Hindi songs for decades. Even now, I listen programmes like CHAAYAA GEET, AAP KI PHARMAYISH, PITAARA, MAN CHAAHE GEET, JAI MALA, AAJ KE PHANKAAR, SAKHI SAHELI,  HELLO PHARMAAYISH, SADHA BAHAAR NAGME, GEET MALA etc. besides viewing a few specific Hindi TV serials. And today, I am equally comfortable with all the three language News Bulletins – Tamil, English and Hindi.

 

(R.SAMPATH)

14/8/2020