Economic reasons to learn Telugu ?

Syamala Rao Tadigadapa (STADIGAD@us.oracle.com)
23 Jul 97 16:28:50 -0700 

 
We need already, or we are going to need soon, economical reasons to  
learn Telugu! 
 
I hate the idea that we must have to get economical justification to 
learn our mother tongue. 
 
I wonder if any body has given a thougt of looking at whether looking 
after the (dependant) mothers ( and/or fathers whereevr applicable) is 
economically justifiable. I doubt if any one likes to think in that line  
about one's beloved parants. 
 
But as a matter of fact, supporting parents especially if they are sick 
is definitely not economic. It would be most economic to get rid of them. 
 
I know it is unpleasant to talk like this.  
 
The concept of 'supporting our own mother tongue' in our homes is quite 
akin to 'supporting our own mothers'.  
 
The way we stand for our mothers, we should stand for our mother toungue. 
 
After all, if we can not have economical reasons to be kind to Telugu, we 
can have emotional reasons. Don't we? 
 
The very idedntity of a being a 'Telugu' man / woman/ boy / girl is lost 
if we choose to loose Telugu for material gains, or what ever reason. 
 
It is the identity that matters to us. If not, one day, we shall discuss 
the idea of 'economical viablity of continuing as Indian'. May be it is 
already an issue in some circles. 
 
I do not want to sound hysteric, But I want to make my stand clear that 
compromising the interest(s) of Telugu language and/or culture is only 
compromising our identity for dubious gains. 
 
If I am not showing suffficent care and respect to my mother, I can not 
expect my sons and daughters to love and care their grand mother. Right? 
Irrespective of external factors, it is not difficult to hold on to the 
mother tongue, whereever you live. One of my friends, who exclusively  
lived since birth in New Delhi before he came to Hyderabad to work, has 
immaculate Telugu knowledge and fine accent.  And I know of Telugu families 
where children speak mostly in Hindi/Urdu kichidi in Hyderabad.  
 
Learning several languages is aburden. But giving first class treatement 
to one's mother tongue should not viewed as a burden. It is kind of a duty 
to our mother tongue and a way of securing our identity. 
 
 
Thanks. 
-Tadigadapa Syamala Rao. 
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