My problems with Kannada

"Oh, C'mon Rajesh, I know you are kidding! " I am tired of listening to these words again and again each time someone realises that I don't know to read & write Kannada. What adds to their disbelief, is the fact that I speak a good, sometimes sanskritised, close-to-purist Kannada. As they slowly overcome the disbelief, they inquire - "How come? I thought Kannada is your mother tongue, isn't it so?........" 

If you too are amused as you are reading this, please don't be so.  I have a proper justification. But, lets not get into "why so?" because its anyway a thing of the past(I hope). I have spent the last few months learning Kannada &  I can now read and write(type to be precise) Kannada pretty decently. (Agreed that "decently" is too fuzzy an adjective, but lets put that thought aside for the moment).

It is not just a matter of eagerness but compulsion that has driven me to learn kannada. My job requires me to be able to read & write Kannada decently to survive.But, as I learn more & more of it, the more complex it gets. I have two big problems with kannada as a language-

1. Kannada is too fussy about pronunciations. In hindi, you only have के(ke) कॆ(kai). In kannada you have one more addition - ಕೆ(ke) ಕೇ(kE)  ಕೈ(kai). For example, there is only one way to write kendra in hindi which is केन्द्र् . However, kannada allows you to have -  ಕೆಂದ್ರ(kendra) as well as ಕೇಂದ್ರ(kEndra). What a mess!  In my honest opinion, most of kannada mistakes could be traced to it. 

2. Writing Kannada gives you a feel of sculpting. The number of twists, turns & curves are huge! To write a simple word, say "ಕನ್ನಡ"(Kannada), you need to lift the pen nearly eight times off the paper! In English, the same word could be written without lifting the pen even once ! :P
So, how does our national language hindi fare? To write कन्नड the count is a mere four. Besides, the number of  curved lines is a lot less!

Since I can do very little about it, I will try to embrace Kannada and patiently hope that it embraces me too!

Dear Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Jai Karnataka, Mr Vatal Nagaraj & other Kannada ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳೆ(fans), I sincerely hope & pray that you are not reading this post. Just in case you do-


ಸಿರಿಗನ್ನಡಂ ಗೆಲ್ಗೆ! 

The problem of relativity

Most of the problems that we face in life is because of comparison. We want to be something relative to others. I need to get a salary more than the perceived market average. I need to get more than what my peers get. I need to grow taller than others. It isn't enough to just make good profits, it should be more than what my nearest competitor gets. I need to get a girlfriend who is prettier than my friend's.

The media reinforces such thoughts, amplifying the insecurities. You have to be fairer- use fair and lovely. You have to be taller- drink complan.The insecurities are because of the comparison and the world runs on insecurity.

Does it mean that we not compete ? Not at all. Competition is fine. But being jealous is not.

Isn't it enough to be happy? Why the comparative & superlative degrees of happier & happiest ? Why this kolaveri ?

To sir with love

Another Gandhi Jayanthi, same set of people paying tributes at Raj Ghat, another dry day, the same mundane yearly rituals repeated itself. However, what made mine special were the memories of one of the few persons who has influenced my life so much - my Gandhian Principal. 

During my school days, a few other school principals used to derive pleasure from flaunting their status through those big cars of those days. I remember my friend from a "leading" school of the city narrating me how his principal arrives in a Maruthi Esteem to his school, and all about his chamber and the aristocratic dressing. 

In contrast, I had a principal who used to cycle his way to school everyday. His dressing was simple yet neat- a well pressed white shirt with a black or a white trouser. He was in fact more approachable than most of the teaching staff. He had a passion for mathematics, and also for removing the prevalent fear for the subject. His idea of mathematics went far beyond the confines of the syllabus. For ex, on a fine day we were given the problem of making the horse pawn cover all the 64 squares on the chess board exactly once. 

He constantly engaged with the students to inspire them to read the daily newspapers. On most days, he would spend time with us asking questions on that day's newspaper. This brought in me the habit of reading newspaper everyday. I also overheard a teacher saying that he spent some part of his salary on rewarding students.

One the first day of the public exams, just as I was about to leave,  I got a call on the landline(obviously). On the other side was the principal speaking, wishing me good luck.Couldn't believe that the principal sir had called me personally to wish me good luck! Such a reassuring call it was! It boosted my confidence levels manifold.  

The last time I met him was when I learnt from the local newspaper that the Gandhian principal had retired. I was in +1 (I PUC) then. I was in two minds of whether to meet him or not. I wanted to, but was very uncomfortable. What would I tell him? It seems so simple now, but back then I was an extreme introvert, not those leaders kind. I eventually went to meet him on the last day of his service. He was busy packing up. I cooked up some story that I had come earlier and that he was not available. Looking back I am not sure why all this was needed. But he understood me like ever before and bailed me out of this embarrassing situation. I din't say anything and stood still. But he could read the emotions on my face. He gestured for a handshake and said, "Rajesh, good luck, do well in life".

As they say -
"The mediocre teacher tells. 

The good teacher explains.  

The superior teacher demonstrates.  

The great teacher inspires."

Dear Veeraraghavan sir, thank you so much.You are more than an inspiration to me!