I do not know if I am the only person who have noticed this habit, or may be I am too much sensitive about it. I may be repeating this thread again in other form.
But are many "desis" too ashamed to speak in Hindi/Gujarati/Mother tongue, in public places like shopping mall or bus terminals?
I do not encourage people speaking in their native at workplace, as professional behaviour is encouraged, but why to be ashamed about your own language?
Yesterday, I was in Sears Yorkdale, and I heard somebody talking in Gujarati. So just out of curiosity, I looked in that direction. And suddenly that guy started talking in English, as soon as he saw me looking in his direction. Or was he afraid, that I may approach him as a "desi"??
A noticeable contrast is in U of T, where I have seen most of the Chinese students (teenagers) speaking in Mandarin/Cantonese, while desi students will try hard to speak English with Canadian accent, and will try hard to distance themselsves with anything that may label them "Indian". Even in subway, I have seen many teengers chatting in Italian/Romanian/Other European languages.
Time to time, I meet people who will liberally sprinkle their Gujarati with generous doses of English words. (Especially the snobby Bombayites??!!!!
)
Come on people - you are in Canada, and you know that you are Indian, and how hard you try to distance yourself from your "desiness", there is no way you can get out "India" out of yourself. And after being in Canada since last six years, I very well know that proficiency in spoken English is neither a matter of pride, nor does it get you any further. If you can get your job done, and can communicate well with your co-workers, you can be successful.
Feels sad, that even after 58 years of independence, we cannot get rid of the "slave" mentality 
Meghal
Quote:
Orginally posted by meghal
I do not know if I am the only person who have noticed this habit, or may be I am too much sensitive about it. I may be repeating this thread again in other form.
But are many "desis" too ashamed to speak in Hindi/Gujarati/Mother tongue, in public places like shopping mall or bus terminals?
I do not encourage people speaking in their native at workplace, as professional behaviour is encouraged, but why to be ashamed about your own language?
Yesterday, I was in Sears Yorkdale, and I heard somebody talking in Gujarati. So just out of curiosity, I looked in that direction. And suddenly that guy started talking in English, as soon as he saw me looking in his direction. Or was he afraid, that I may approach him as a "desi"??
A noticeable contrast is in U of T, where I have seen most of the Chinese students (teenagers) speaking in Mandarin/Cantonese, while desi students will try hard to speak English with Canadian accent, and will try hard to distance themselsves with anything that may label them "Indian". Even in subway, I have seen many teengers chatting in Italian/Romanian/Other European languages.
Time to time, I meet people who will liberally sprinkle their Gujarati with generous doses of English words. (Especially the snobby Bombayites??!!!!
Come on people - you are in Canada, and you know that you are Indian, and how hard you try to distance yourself from your "desiness", there is no way you can get out "India" out of yourself. And after being in Canada since last six years, I very well know that proficiency in spoken English is neither a matter of pride, nor does it get you any further. If you can get your job done, and can communicate well with your co-workers, you can be successful.
Feels sad, that even after 58 years of independence, we cannot get rid of the "slave" mentality
Meghal
Well said Meghal. It has been my experience that with the sad exception of Desis, every other emmigrant community strives hard to preserve its culture and to pass it on to future generations. Desis on the other hand are a breed of their own. They'd rather "Americaninze, Canadanize, UKenize, Australianize etc etc." their Kids rather than teach them the values and good points of our culture. If I was Freud Reborn, I'd certainly make it the work of my life to study this strange phenomenan that is unique to the even stranger animal known as a ... Gulp!!! Ooooooh!!! Yikesss!!! .....desi...
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Microsoft - Which end of the stick do you want today?
'Being Indian' manje kai? Like this? Giving burgers,hot dogs, chinese and pizzas to deities? Aur in Ahmedabad, in 'snobbish' Mumbai not.
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Indian temple ropes in pizzas, burgers to lure kids to religion
Ahmedabad, Oct 04: It's party time for India's Gods who are being offered pizzas, chocolates, peppermints and even coke by devotees as the temple authorities encourage the unusual offerings in a bid to lure children.
Ahmedabad, Oct 04: It's party time for India's Gods who are being offered pizzas, chocolates, peppermints and even coke by devotees as the temple authorities encourage the unusual offerings in a bid to lure children.
The temple in Rajkot town in western Gujarat is the only one made in honour of "Jivantika Mata", a little-known Goddess finding mention in some of the most ancient Hindu scriptures.
The deity, it is believed is especially benevolent to children. For a retired railway employee who established the temple in her name, it would mean little if it is the elders and not the young ones who do the temple rounds.
A simple innovation in the kind of gifts and offerings did the trick and the beautifully made temple has since not stopped resounding with the laughter and play of kids, who come here in hoards, often dragging their parents in tow.
"Jeevantika is the provider and protector of children, keeping this in mind we started to distribute sweets, chocolates and peppermints twice during the time of prayers," said Aimprasad Dave, the temple's main priest.
For the children, a huge number of who are from poor families and slums, a visit to the temple is an opportunity to a rare full meal.
Many come from households surviving on less than $1 a day and would till now only hang around outside swanky fast food joints longing to know what the elusive pizzas and burgers taste like.
"All the other temples I go to, we only get coconut there but here it is different. Its like coming to a fast food hotel...I love the burgers, hot dogs and Chinese that we get here," Kirshna Sodha, a thrilled 10-year-old, said.
The temple priests meanwhile are using the opportunity to teach the children about good and evil and the right way to live and must to their relief found rapt attention from the kids who treat the deity more as a friend they can come to in need than a divine out of reach Goddess.
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hinglish zindabad
Location: Beef and Bacon Country
Posted on: 25-10-05 16:41:47
Indians in canada have this Indian fixation about everything. forget India . Start living in Canada and get a life.
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"Ever dance with the devil in the pale moon light?"
"I always ask that of all my prey."
"I just like the sound of it."
Quote:
Orginally posted by NorthAlberta
Indians in canada have this Indian fixation about everything. forget India . Start living in Canada and get a life.
I think it is really the other way around. Goras are fixated on being Desi in Canada (love that dress, love your food etc. etc.) and Desis are fixated on being "Gora" (Hey how ya doin?)
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Microsoft - Which end of the stick do you want today?
Meghal,
Drive down a little more to North West from Yorkdale Mall and you will surely miss Canada. I guess you know where I am telling you to come. I donot believe in your statement of Gujarati avoiding Gujarati Language. That person must be a frequent visitor to Canadian Desi and would have taken you as another Language Police. That is the reason he / she switched to English from Gujarati at your staring at him
Some students at University and Colleges try to adobt to accent false one very fast but there are hell lot of desi students still blabring desi slangs. Recently Humber college had a desi night.....on popular demand of Gora...Kala and desi students. Gora has gone to such and extent of learning Punjabi slang b*$%# Changi hai.......
I have very little faith in what you and DesiTiger is saying.....Fortunetly Transmogrifier are working and not in college / Univ. otherwise imagine kind of desi stuff you would get.....
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What is the fuss about? Have you seen a forum of all the countries you and DT have mentioned in English? Do we have our canadiandesi in Hindi? Why are you writing in english when you know all the members are predominantly from the subcontinent?
And yes speaking of snobs - I think you should stop writing in english.
Quote:
Orginally posted by meghal
I do not know if I am the only person who have noticed this habit, or may be I am too much sensitive about it. I may be repeating this thread again in other form.
But are many "desis" too ashamed to speak in Hindi/Gujarati/Mother tongue, in public places like shopping mall or bus terminals?
I do not encourage people speaking in their native at workplace, as professional behaviour is encouraged, but why to be ashamed about your own language?
Yesterday, I was in Sears Yorkdale, and I heard somebody talking in Gujarati. So just out of curiosity, I looked in that direction. And suddenly that guy started talking in English, as soon as he saw me looking in his direction. Or was he afraid, that I may approach him as a "desi"??
A noticeable contrast is in U of T, where I have seen most of the Chinese students (teenagers) speaking in Mandarin/Cantonese, while desi students will try hard to speak English with Canadian accent, and will try hard to distance themselsves with anything that may label them "Indian". Even in subway, I have seen many teengers chatting in Italian/Romanian/Other European languages.
Time to time, I meet people who will liberally sprinkle their Gujarati with generous doses of English words. (Especially the snobby Bombayites??!!!!
Come on people - you are in Canada, and you know that you are Indian, and how hard you try to distance yourself from your "desiness", there is no way you can get out "India" out of yourself. And after being in Canada since last six years, I very well know that proficiency in spoken English is neither a matter of pride, nor does it get you any further. If you can get your job done, and can communicate well with your co-workers, you can be successful.
Feels sad, that even after 58 years of independence, we cannot get rid of the "slave" mentality
Meghal
