Microblogging site Twitter, like other social media platforms, has given people the opportunity to share their opinions on anything and everything. And people have been doing so even though there are great chances of being schooled, trolled, and slammed by others online or simply being flagged off by the application itself.
This time around, people online are irked by UNESCO chairperson on International Water Cooperation Ashok Swain’s tweet.
Giving words to this thought, Swain who is a professor of peace and conflict research at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, wrote that when Bengalis try to speak Hindi, it is an ‘insult’.
We’re not sure how he came to this conclusion. But his thoughts are surely controversial and called for a debate. Hence, people (Bengalis and non-Bengalis) online came to the comments sections and claimed that his tweet is derogatory and wrong in multiple ways than one.
This is how they backed this notion.
That’s not correct. Stereotype mat kijiye
— Bose Shruti (@Tinni_Aphrodite) July 28, 2022
I’m South Indian & i love to speak Hindi language !
If you are Bengali then you can talk in Bengali language but there is no disgrace in talking Hindi language !
— Nikhil Reddy (@Nikhil_Speakes) July 28, 2022
Why so? Is excelling in Hindi a prerequisite for a Bengali to step into the Parliament? If it’s so then it’s certainly not our parliament, not a parliament of the whole non-Hindi population of India.
— Sankalan Ghosh (@Sankalanghosh19) July 29, 2022
First of all this is utterly callous statement-
There are examples more than your AUKAAT where pure bengalis have excelled in professions with primary communication language- Hindi
2nd, we have to speak hindi to communicate with a belt who can’t understand anything except Hindi— Shankhabrata Misra (@ShankhabrataM18) July 28, 2022
Bengalis wouldn’t speak Hindi if Hindi speakers weren’t such massive bullies. Just like you are right now.
— Abhilasha S Gill (@dhoop08) July 29, 2022
Try to learn & speak any language can not be insult to any one
— SIMA (@seemaadhikari) July 29, 2022
Things that are cringe:
1. Hindi imperialism
2. This tweet— বাঙালি (@bangalibadi2) July 28, 2022
In Kolkata, almost everyone I meet at a shop begins by speaking Hindi to me. I insist on speaking Bengali, but they continue speaking in Hindi even though my Bengali is pretty good (albeit old-fashioned) and they themselves are Bengalis!
— Dan Banik (@danbanik) July 28, 2022
We just try to accommodate, why will others take it as insult? 🤔
We are overtly friendly people 😇— Jaini /উজ্জয়িনী/ اجینی (@IchbinUjjaini) July 28, 2022
As far as people understand what is being communicated, it is fine. Language is primarily a tool for communication, not necessarily something to be perfected at. Anyways, Hindi is a 2nd or 3rd language for many Indians. So, not a big deal.
— Tapash (@taps_479) July 28, 2022
You must be aware of the fact that both the national anthem and the national song are in Bangla.
Let’s just relax about Hindi being the god of all languages.
Have a good day!
— Ayesha (She/Her) (@aaishhah) July 30, 2022
When Bengalis try to speak Hindi then its an insult, okay. How about Hindi people speaking Bengali? Just imagine how disaster it will be. Just like Hindi is mother tongue of few states (not entire India), Bengali is mother tongue of WB. So obviously there will be hiccups.
— Prasant Dara (@PRASANTDARA) July 28, 2022
Could someone please explain to me what is a perfect way to speak Hindi?
Which of the so-called Hindi dialects is th standard?
Awadhi?
Bhojpuri?
Nagpuri?
Marwari?
Pahadi?
Braj Bhasha?
KhariBoli?
Haryanvi?Punjabified Urdu of Bollywood?
Non hindi people atleast try
Period. https://t.co/rszNr3xWwp— Aeinz । এন্জ (@aeinz_a) July 30, 2022
Mr @ashoswai
You should understand that Bengalis trying to speak Hindi is a gesture of privilege given to Hindi speaking community like yours because we Bengalis tend to be inclusive in our behaviour
If you want to use a translator we are more than happy to stick to Bangla https://t.co/Qid5SykP82— Gourav Bose (@GouravBose7) July 29, 2022
Keep your useless opinion to yourself. https://t.co/njkfNYUDzU
— 🍃𝓢𝓱𝓪𝔂𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲 🏠🍁🍃 (@nyctophilestars) July 29, 2022
At least we try! Should be good enough for those Hindi-speaking people who can't seem to understand that it's not compulsory to know Hindi. https://t.co/qVX6NqSNzK
— Hiya (@hiyachatt) July 29, 2022
When a perfect idiot tries to speak like an intelligent person, this is the type of shit that he comes up with. https://t.co/Zw2oUlDAyB
— Raja Basu (@rajabasu) July 30, 2022
Earlier when Ajay Devgn got in soup after he tweeted that Hindi is our national language, Sonu Nigam gave his opinions on it and said that we already have a lot of problems in the country to deal with, so why do we need a new one?
And I think he’s right. The unnecessary imposition of a language ruins the beauty of the country that houses people who speak around 22 different languages. The fact that they try to learn other languages to communicate with their countrymen better is itself worth an appreciation. What do you think?