I AM TAMIL SO I WON'T LEARN HINDI (PART 2)

If you haven't read Part 1, read it here: I am Tamil so I won't learn Hindi

Finally, its all about perception. If you have ever visited the temple town of Guruvayoor (in Kerala) during Sabarimalai (a religious festival) season, it's likely you have seen or experienced it. Example similar to how a Hindi speaking guy, who believes everyone in India should know Hindi gets treated in Chennai. Just a difference - Replace Hindi with Tamil, retain the attitude and change the state to Kerala.

For instance:

Tamil person asking for route to a Malayalee shopkeeper, in Tamil.

"Thiruchooor pogarathuku inga vandi kedaikkuma saamee?" (Will I get a bus to go to "Thiruchoor" from here)

Malayalee shopkeeper answers back (in Malayalam), "Thiruchoor kku vandi onnum kittoolla annacheee... sthalam vidu" (You won't get a bus to "Thiruchoor" from here, buzz off.)  (Annachee is a derogatory slang to denote a person of Tamil origin in Kerala.)

Now, The Tamil person speaks to his friend in Tamil, "Aanaalum indha Malayalathaa romba over aa pesaraan. Avanukku kandippa Tamil theriyum, apdiyum Malayalathulaye pesittirukkaan." (This Malayali guy is speaking too much. I clearly know he knows Tamil, despite that he speaks in Malayalam)

At the same time, the Malayali shopkeeper told the Tamil person, "Annachi aadyam Thrissur ennu parayaan padikku, ennittu vazhi chodikkaan vaa... avande oru thiruchoor." (First you learn how to say "Thrissur" and then come and ask for directions.)

There is no place called "Thiruchoor" in Kerala, its "Thrissur. However, 99% of the Tamil folks will NOT make an effort to pronounce it that way. 

This is a classic example of linguistic intolerance - triggered by linguistic insecurity. 

The best way to not end up in this situation is to try and imbibe as many languages as possible. It's not by force, it's by choice. Just the way a south Indian says he will NEVER learn Hindi, and a north Indian will say he will NEVER learn Tamil, its just a demonstration of useless ego. 

Specifically to Tamil folks, what you dole out to a Hindi speaker in Chennai is the same is what you will get in Kerala. We don't need this! At our respective zones we may be "Thamilan" first or "Malayalee" first or "Kannadiga" first.  But in a multi lingual country like ours, demonstration of that linguistic arrogance / supremacy is just counter intuitive not to mention counter productive.

No, I won't learn English because someone can't speak Tamil / Malayalam / Punjabi. I will make all efforts to learn the language of the land and communicate in it. If someone genuinely needs help and can't speak the local language or English, I will do everything in my capacity to help him. If someone throws linguistic arrogance at me, I will make best of efforts to tell him as to how that is not helping his cause. Most importantly, I will NEVER feel proud of NOT Knowing a language. Ever.

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