Few days ago my mate and I had a video shoot at Bhubaneswar. As we reached the location, the security guard guided us to the respective floor by the lift. It was our client’s house. I remember when I was a kid; I used to watch my steps while walking on the tile patterns of the floor. I still don’t know what was so interesting about it, but it was kind of a habit. But years after, the past repeated as I walked through the few stairs that led to the main door of our client’s house. I guess the magic was in the shining tiles that took my attention. There were decorative plants and artifacts throughout the way, but the tiles beneath were still most intriguing. Well I knew our client had a pretty wealthy background but seeing it through your own eyes when you’re not so acquainted to it, really fire up your neurons.

Finally we reached the door which opened to a new world of luxury. Again it took some time for my head to look around and amaze, but we were there for a professional work, so we had to do the arrangements for that. As we were done with that, our client came out of her room all ready with her attire and makeup. She asked if the makeup was too much, and pretty generously we said, “it’s perfect”. 

The shoot begun and it went pretty well. The lady recited a poem that she wrote for her husband for the occasion of his birthday and we ensured it would look even better and exciting when her husband gets the surprise on a big screen.

Their cook made a nice cup of coffee and some cheese sandwiches which were really delicious. Everything was going smooth and nice, until the lady’s sons entered into the house.

“I told both of you that we will be having a shoot today and to be ready for your parts before 11 am. And you’re waking up now”, the lady chided her elder son.

“I had my music practices mom with my friends over zoom and you know their time zone doesn’t match with ours”, says the elder one taking seat on the sofa.

He waved his hand to us with a faint smile.

“Music practices? Don’t you know we have to get this done before your father arrives? Now go and get ready ASAP”, said the lady.

Well the conversation went a little long but that’s not what baffled me. Instead it was the language in which they were talking. They were Odiyas and I knew that. They had also been in Bhubaneswar since the beginning and I knew that as well. But they were still speaking in English inside their house among themselves.

Well before moving on to any conclusion, I decided to give some more time and thought into it. But as I worked on the same, it turned out that I wasn’t wrong.  Every conversation between them was in English except those with their cook, caretakers and servants, to whom they addressed in Odia. They were excellent in speaking Odia as I heard them and that cleared the doubt that they might not know the language properly.

So what’s the problem in talking in your own language inside your house with your family members? The same question was in my mind.

Well I’m not questioning or criticizing this particular family by this whole story, rather I am more interested in what lies behind it- the reason of using another language more than your mother tongue even when you’re inside your house?

I believe by now you must have got my point. We often hear these kinds of jokes made on The Kapil Sharma Show where he mentions that rich people talk, eat, walk and sleep in English. The point is, English is the language that dominates their tongue. But it’s not something that goes on in rich families only, rather it’s very much in our society and minds of youth as well who believe speaking good English makes you look more civilized.

It’s not that uncommon nowadays when you hear people, especially youngsters having casual conversation with their friends in auto rickshaws, local buses, cabs and train, in English.

If you still don’t agree with this, let me ask you a question. Have you ever talked to stranger or a friend of your friend on Facebook or WhatsApp? What language do you prefer to start your conversation with?

I believe you must have got the answer.

This doesn’t end up here only; it broadens and expands to other fields as well. Even when someone writes a story or a poem or any piece of literary work, it is often seen and evaluated in comparison with the language used by Shakespeare and other classical renowned writers. Why can’t we have our own touch to our own artistic works? What is so wrong in that? 

Again we can say that it’s the benchmark and true essence of English but that’s just a feeling, a belief that underlies stubborn in our minds.

Countries like China, Russia, Japan and many more, whom we admire in terms of economy, job opportunity, gender equality and all round progress, they give utmost priority to their national language irrespective of where they stand.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the footballers who shook the world of soccer, rarely speak in English even when they’re on an international press or interview.

But we, the Indians, whether accept it or not, we believe speaking in English makes you look more civilized than if you don’t. Without knowing proper English appearing an interview in India, might feel horrible.

I’m not against the language of English or whoever preaches it. I agree that it’s a globally accepted language that makes the transmission of information around the globe smooth and efficient. But all I have been talking about in this article is more about bringing those untouched believes (stigmas in other word) that lies stubborn deep in our minds, to the light.

The answer lies not in the debate, rather in the question “Why” when put against all those stubborn believes that we harbor in our minds.

I would repeat, that this whole article doesn’t criticize the language English or those who love it. It’s more about attaching the very same with civilization, class and personality.

P.S – Truly, English being the major language used all over the world is the sign of dominance of Britain during its colonial period. It has been 73 years since we got our independence, but the question is, are we really free within our minds? And that’s the question we need to ask ourselves. Not to someone else, not to the world, but just to ourselves.

By Dhrutikanta Sahoo