Feeling Like Strangers at Home: How Language Barriers Divide Us in Our Own Country

Dear Citizens,

I am not sure if this is the correct forum to address this issue. Last Friday, a motorcyclist crashed into my car. He acknowledged that it was his fault at the scene. However, the bystanders, upon realizing that I do not speak the local language, unfairly placed the entire blame on me. Due to my imposing stature, they verbally abused me in the local language and even threatened to involve the police and state witnesses to claim it was my fault. Though a few troublemakers attempted to intimidate me physically, they instructed me to leave the state.

My concern is the growing division in our beautiful country. Are we being separated by language, caste, or communal differences? Are we feeling like strangers in our own land?

I am a retired Army Officer with 30 years of service to the nation. Must I now master 18 official languages and countless dialects? I am already familiar with 4-5 languages—how many more must I learn?

Let us unite and combat this decay together.

Regards,

Col. Jude

Dear Sir,

This is the second case that has come into the picture where citizens of Bangalore ask somebody to leave their state. A few days ago, I read in the newspaper that more than 50 students from Gujarat who are studying in a Pharmacy college in Bangalore were compelled to leave the place in the same way that you have faced, by local persons. It was shocking that the college authority supported the local public instead of supporting their students. Now, all students have returned to Gujarat, leaving their studies. This situation is occurring frequently day by day in various states of our country.

Yes, you have used appropriate words. Are we aliens in our own country? Now, everybody wants independence. We can see Maharashtra's issue, Gorkha land's issue, and many more. I think we should take initiatives through CHR.

TOGETHER WE CAN AND WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Thanks.

Dear Mr. Shah,

Thank you for your prompt reply. All I want is that a movement should start to stop the divisive forces. I believe in the "Power Of One."

Regards,
Col. Jude

Dear Mr. Shah,

We have our local forum meets or get-togethers, and this may be one of the topics that we can discuss. We may invite leaders of society as they have a wider exposure, and their voice will be heard over a wider spectrum.

Regards, Col. Jude

Sorry to hear that from a senior person like you, Mr. Jude. I have faced similar discrimination while I was in Delhi (Gurgaon) for 4 years. It was tough to get adjusted. "Oh, dark-skinned!... Madarasi..." is what I used to hear from local people. I was deeply hurt when my own people discriminated against me, treating me like a foreigner in my own country.

I might not have been threatened to leave the place, but discrimination made me leave. We speak of unity but definitely do not follow through. It has to be inculcated from childhood. Let's educate our kids and expect a change.

That's nice, Sir. Keep it going, Sari. It is really painful to us when such behavior occurs in our own country. You know, when we went to Chennai, a few people whom I met did not want to consider Hindi as our national language. According to those people, it is a language of North Indians. They told me that North Indians rule the government; hence, they have considered Hindi as the national language and not any other language. How cheap? How can we think like that, ma'am? (I am not from North India)

Sir, I feel sorry to hear this. In daily life, many are facing the same problem just like you did. We must definitely take a step against this. Why such discrimination when we are from the same country? Why do we take the oath that all Indians are our brothers and sisters?

We must revolt against such discrimination just for the sake of our sweet nation. There was poverty, but still, it was a better place to live in. But what has happened? Why are such changes coming in the minds of our citizens?

I am with you. I am with all of you who are fighting for the same cause. Sir CHR and its members are all with you. I hope, in fact, I have faith in them.

Come on, friends, let's join hands and march forward.

Dear Friends,

I am already feeling better to see your responses. I agree we cannot do much with set minds, but this feeling of oneness should be incorporated in the school curriculum. I will be taking my story to the dailies, especially the national ones. If any of you know any journalists, please share your individual stories.

Regards,
Col Jude

Well, I've also come across such experiences, not exactly personal, but through my friends who stayed in Bangalore. But because of this caste/color discrimination or I don't know what to say, she came back to Delhi after struggling for 6 months in Bangalore. I mean, this is really a very sad thing. Come on, guys, we are all Indians representing a single beautiful country. Don't do or encourage such things whether you are from Delhi, Darjeeling, Bangalore, etc. Please join hands to stop this, and let's see how we can make this country more flourishing and magnificent.

Hello Sir,

It's really very sad to hear that a person of your stature was ill-treated. This kind of attitude is developing very fast in Indian society. The only reason I feel is to gain cheap publicity by regional leaders who, by talking such absurd things, gain sympathy from the local unemployed youth. They motivate such people to act and misbehave with other people so that they can gain immediate publicity and rise in politics. We have to stop these kinds of people and their actions. How? I don't know. One way I have thought of and which I am also practicing is to never vote for regional parties. I don't know whether I am right or not, but my belief is that regionalism will lead to a sort of civil war when people of the same country will not support others because they are from another region. They will try to harm them so that they leave their region.

But these leaders do not think about what will happen to our economy when a person from one state is not allowed to work. Why would they purchase goods made in another state?

I also agree with the idea that we have to create a change in our children's attitude towards how they treat people. I hope for the best for future generations, but for the present generation, questions remain unanswered.

Regards,

SNB

I tell you, Mr. Jude,

It's the setback of our very nation that is holding us back in our growth. It's a kind of flavor that you see in all parts of our nation. I think only 10% of the people actually do what they say. I promise you, all those who were chanting slogans above would not follow traffic rules. How many of us really do everything we know? It's not a place to blame others and see ourselves as perfect. First, let's do all we can, and then we can advise others.

I am not a gentleman either. Please stop using all the good words. There is a saying in Telugu, "Devils chanting Vedas doesn't suit." If I am strong, yes, I want to be. I believe I can at least impress someone.

Regards,
RK