LANGUAGE – FOR LOVE OR HATRED?

The original intention of language has always been communication and self-expression. Language has evolved considerably throughout history, from sign languages in the ancient ages to the colloquial lingos uttered by the Generation Z. Pondering upon the diversity of languages across the globe is both humbling and exhilarating. It is diversity that makes life on earth both fascinating and riveting.

India has always stood tall for unity in diversity. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, there is no dearth for diversity in culture, complexion, food and language. India ranks fourth in the list of countries with maximum number of indigenous languages, with a whopping number of 453! I have always been proud of this inclusivity and unity in India. And this pride has wilted today, after hearing about the recent events in my alma mater, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), Bangalore.

For those who are unaware, on November 1^st, a group of Kannada language fanatics barged into the outpatient department(OPD) of the Minto Ophthalmology Hospital, attached to BMCRI, during the working hours. The resident doctors were working well past the closing time, compensating for the Kannada Rajyotsava holiday. The OPD services were disrupted, and they surrounded an unsuspecting postgraduate resident doctor from another state and demanded that she speaks Kannada. They blew up the fact that she was a non-Kannadiga and started intimidating her and shouting slogans. Initially she told that it is her choice as to what language to speak. The mob around her shouted that she doesn’t like Kannada and that its their choice that she should speak Kannada! Later, she told politely that she likes Kannada, but she doesn’t want to talk to the mob around her. Again, they shouted that she doesn’t want Kannada, but she wants all benefits of the state. The actual footage of the video shows very clearly how well the doctor speaks in Kannada, and how rudely the language fanatics were mentally harassing her. They created a human siege around her so that she couldn’t get up and leave. They kept forcing her to apologize for something she did not say or mean. It was no surprise that there was no security for rescue. Despite the hospital being situated across the road from a police station, it was not until some time had lapsed that police came to the rescue, and even they could not extricate her from the group of women who held her captive. The brave doctor stood her ground till the very end, but even in the presence of police, she was let free only after she apologized, that too for nothing! Despite all the uproar that has happened after this incident, the language fanatics who were responsible were neither apologetic nor remorseful.

                                                                           

As a doctor from Kerala, who did her graduation and post graduation in two different states, I understand the frustration of being unable to communicate and express oneself. It is all the more difficult for doctors because communication with a patient is one of the key factors in making a diagnosis. Hence doctors like me, put our hearts and souls into learning the new language. I have never seen any doctor shy away from learning a new language due to overt love for one’s mother tongue! Personally, I love my mother tongue, Malayalam, and I am equally comfortable with English. That did not prevent me from learning Tamil in Tamil Nadu and Kannada in Karnataka. Learning a new language from scratch was challenging and difficult at times.  Still, as doctors, our primary aim was communicating to patients; understanding them and making them understand. No barrier could stand in the way; not region, language or social status, nor anything else.

The medical fraternity has been barely recovering from the shocking events in the last few months. We haven’t forgotten Dr Paribaha Mukhopadhyay, who was gifted a depressed skull fracture for his service to the society. We haven’t forgotten how television anchor Anjana Om Kashyap barged into a busy ICU in Bihar and tried to intimidate a young busy doctor serving the masses. We haven’t forgotten how an elderly, honorable doctor, Dr Deben Dutta, bled to death while on duty, murdered by the very classes he was serving post-retirement, in Assam.

We still haven’t forgotten these assaults against doctors, and now, goondaism againt doctors in the name of language?

How much are we to tolerate? If anyone, it is the doctors in the government sector who will be speaking in the native language, because they serve the poorer sections of the society. Corporate sectors may use English more commonly, because only the affordable sections of the society can avail them. Most of the resident doctors in government medical colleges have earned their seats with their sweat and blood. Through the 50% All India Quota, doctors can take the subject of their choice anywhere in India. Therefore, in any medical college, there will be a section of residents who are new to the language. And almost all of them speak the native language of that state coherently within 6 months. And ultimately almost every doctor in the government sector will speak the native tongue of that state.

All said and done, the assault on the lady doctor in Minto Hospital was baseless and atrocious to begin with. Who gave these activists the permission to form a mob and barge into a government hospital ? The activists say that they wanted to question the doctors about a few cases of failed eye surgeries which happened two months back. Why did they choose to wait for two months, and then create a publicity stunt on the day of Kannada Rajyotsava? Since when did law and order fall into the hands of the citizens? Does not it ever occur to them that any government hospital does not belong to the doctors who work there? Mentally assaulting a hapless junior doctor is not the solution for their apparent and alleged goodwill. Any grievance can be proceeded through legal action and not by assault or intimidation.

Do these activists send their children to Kannada medium schools? Do they go to government hospitals for treatment? Do they actually read and enjoy Kannada literature? Do they ensure that the younger generations are taught to love their mother tongue? The footage shows a group of women activists decked with makeup (pardon me, I am not against makeup). Did not that originate in the western countries? Since when did the western language become “dhikara” and not western fashion? Wearing saree and flowers on a state festival does not make them any more of a Kannadiga than they are. Kannadigas are known to be hospitable, friendly, loving, warm and inclusive. As a person having many Kannadiga friends, I can vouch for that. This is what should be upheld on the day of Kannada Rajyotsava. The motto should not be terrorizing people in the name of language. It is comforting to know that a vast majority of Kannadigas who respect and love their language have condemned the assault.

Having said all that, I have two requests for my readers.

As a doctor, I request you to stand by us through our tough times. It is very disappointing to read demeaning comments about doctors being circulated in the social media, even in the wake of a crisis like this. The doctor community in BMCRI are on strike not because they want to disrupt patient service, but because they want justice. The lady doctor who was harassed is not just a doctor; she is someone’s daughter, sister, wife or mother. Every doctor is as human as anyone of you, with same emotions, strengths and weaknesses. Security at work place was never made a priority for doctors. We were forced to demand it when the assaults grew over the years. Now it is a plea by every doctor in India.

My second request is not as a doctor, but as a fellow human being. Let us not forget that language was created for communication, expression, understanding and hence for the progress of human civilization. Language should inculcate unity and not dissension. Using language to terrorize and oppress people is an abomination. Let us use language to spread love and not hatred. Let us shed our ego, and be ready to make a fellow human being more comfortable; even if it forces us to talk their language and not ours.

And remember, love and healing have no language….