Recently I found a Bengali person at my workplace with whom I started conversing in Bengali. It's quite natural for us,after staying away from our native place for a long time. Whenever we find somebody speaking Bengali,we just can't resist ourselves from speaking the sweet language. But this time things were different. I never did it in others' presence. Among all,I used English,the common language to share opinions. But, when there were only two of us,the person told me, "You speak typical Bengali,I don't understand that. Why don't you use Hindi or English? That's easy to understand." Although it was unexpected, I agreed. If the person is not encouraging me to use the common language then why should I............?
But I don't like the exact thing. Most of the Bengali people who stay away from West Bengal, have a tendency to speak all languages other than Bengali. I don't understand this mentality. Why so? Is the language inferior? No way,the best set of literary works are produced in Bengali. It's the second widely-used language in Indian subcontinent. Rabindranath Tagore composed his immortal works in this language only. There are many others to name.......then why to show no respect to our mother-tongue? This habit is based on self-inferiority of these particular people.
When I was in college,many girls used to taunt me as "Bangali". I never paid attention. I'm proud to be a Bengali. I do't have any bad feeling about it. I have a deep-routed respect for my culture and heritage. The person who lacks it, is equally spineless,I feel that way. But another Bengali girl in my class tried her best to prove herself from UP, she almost winced in pain every time I tried to start a conversation in Bengali. She used to say,"Other than being Bengali,I can be anything. I just hate the language and culture. So slow,so timid!" Well,that's the problem then? But,for your kind information my dear, Bengalis are never slow. See everywhere,they are in all important organizations with high designations. These excuses are baseless. The idea of avoiding the mother-tongue is also another sort of complex. Who told them that their value will increase if they start speaking some other language? Isn't it some sort of self-humiliation? I try to be something I never was..... why to be a crow in peacock feathers?
Self respect is the thing a human being carries throughout his/her life. By avoiding the roots, or humiliating the cultures nobody can achieve the desired heights. Knowing other languages is fine,you are talented if you master on all these. But that doesn't require forgetting your own mother-tongue. Why to be ashamed if you speak it with a person from your own place? The people from other provinces never do this,Tamilians are at the beginning of this list. They really respect their language which is really appreciable. This is only obvious in Bengalis. Why,you are not inferior anywhere.......then why this pretension is required? Shell out the cocoons of those stupid beliefs,please. Greatness remains in behavior and activities,not in language and outlook. Have some respect towards this great language. Without understanding the value of one's mother-tongue,nobody can call themselves truly educated. So come out of those self-made cells of faulty beliefs and look at the world. Progress comes where the activities are based on self-respect. So be proud of your cultures,my dear friends.You will definitely win.
