Marathi 'manoos' need to communicate in English

An inability to communicate proficiently in English is costing young Maharashtrians jobs

I usually have good chance meetings, especially when I am travelling through India's countryside: Brief meetings with strangers, but memorable enough to give me good story ideas or to add to my store of information.

On Diwali I was travelling on the air-conditioned Shivneri. Now, after Vashi, a  gentleman sat next to me. It was a struggle to sit comfortably, without getting in each other's way. Suddenlym after we spoke a bit, in English, this man began telling me about a few things in Vashi.

He asked about my profession and the minute I said journalist, he told me some insightful things about Maharashtrians, which I begged him to write in an open letter to Mr Raj Thackeray. This man turned out to be the principal of a college, the name of which I will not reveal for his own safety. I shall call him Mr Principal. Now he told me that students today are not attracted to the traditional bachelor studies - the BA, BSC and BCom. Mr Principal was saddened that parents were only concerned with courses that would help their children become richer. He said medicine, was the most lucrative and attractive.

Mr Principal then said that most Maharashtrians also want their children to do well and ask them to do professional courses, so that either they can go to the US, or get into private firms and make money. Mr Principal told me the Marathi manoos did well academically. Marathi children excelled at their subjects, but wait, now comes the catch. Mr Principal lamented that Marathi children were not picking up different languages and were extremely poor at communication.

Mr Principal said, "We have a huge industrial belt of Belapur. They come on to our campus to interview and hire students. Although Marathi students excel in their studies, no one wants to hire them." I hope the readers read this clearly: No one wants to hire Marathi students.

The reason being, "They are very poor at English and have little skill at communication." Now this is not a column to pull up the Marathi manoos, or their children, but a pointer to all to know and understand the fact that we are a growing nation.

Mr Principal went on to tell me something interesting. He pointed to many plots where construction activity was underway or was earmarked for it. Mr Principal said that these were institutions where foreign universities were to collaborate with Indian institutions. He said, "We are in the heart of foreign collaboration. Our local students will be at an advantage, compared with others. But this will be the real test for teachers and students."

Mr Principal told me how teachers and professors needed to pull up their socks, but it is also a strong reminder for students to improve their skills. Today we are in an era of globalisation. The need of the hour is communication skills and speaking English.

For all those who feel that the MNS president has a point, let me ask you, how many Marathi dhobis, doodhwalas, vegetable hawkers, fish hawkers, restaurant worker and other Marathi job seekers have lost their jobs because a North Indian has got employed? None. We as a community pride ourselves ion being constables, policemen, wait I know, doctors, IT professionals, software engineers, civil engineers, architects, bankers (we love this profession), peons, clerks etc. Other jobs like cooks, and domestic workers have been passed over to other communities. The only category of work is dabbawalas, which Marathi manoos do exclusively, and very finely.

I am sure you may have realised that all levels of society need to know English language. We are a community that just does not speak English. This is one of the most important reasons why we lag behind. Our Marathi manoos prides himself in saying English is not their matru bhasha (mother tongue). But in today's world, knowing one's mother tongue is not sufficient. One needs to be proficient in English. We are growing. Marathi manoos is not restricted simply interacting and bartering with another Marathi manoos.

We are moving ahead. Mr. Principal complained of the lack of motivation shown by his Marathi students to speak the language and communicate effectively. Mr Principal was effective when speaking in English, articulate, although he was not prolific. This fine print is important. Keeping to ourselves and not being communicative is often read as 'this person lacks
confidence, and language and communication skills'.

This has been the biggest fault of the Marathi manoos. The new campaign for speaking in Marathi is interestingly being led by a man who has enrolled his children in one of the leading English-medium school in Mumbai, Bombay Scottish. Yes, the Shiv Sena claims to pioneer this Marathi-first campaign, yet the sons of Udhav too went to Bombay Scottish School.

It is no surprise that most the Marathi-medium schools are closing down. Even my domestic help has told me that she would like her daughter to attend an English school, rather than go to a Marathi school and lag behind. Parents are aspiring to educate their children in English.

The reason being, whether we like it or not, it is the business language of the world.  Now for all those who make claims about other countries, let me say one thing: China issued an ultimatum to its citizens in 2003, that by 2008, every person must have some English communication skills.

The reasons being there were Olympics and Chinese should be able to communicate with foreign tourists. The regressive campaign of Marathi-only will only take the community backward. The campaigns will only continue give the Marathi children an inferiority complex that many complain of even today.

Maharashtrians are often seen as non-friendly, non-communicative and myopic. This is not a view that will take the community a long way. Like Mr Principal said, "The industries do not want Marathi students." The loss is only the community's, there is no point blaming any other community. The problem lies within the community and its people.
k_neeta@dnaindia.net