nothing earthshaking. but it took me all life to realise that being articulate, being in control of language - even one's mother tongue - is something that your socioeconomic position determines. you have to be able to buy language.
the autowallah was talking to his friend about arbitrary cases filed by the local cop. he took mentality and humanity to be synonymns. all this happening in bengali. "loktar moddhe kono manoshikota nei." he thought it derives from manush. and i was struck not by his usage, but by how easily we take our privileges granted. rather belatedly, i revisited the concept of finding voice, giving voice. i could understand finally why it is so important.
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Sharpened pencils, twisted tongues, dulled wits, tarnished dreams and all that makes a day bearable or unbearable. Depending on the day. But not mondays. Those are uniformly ugly.
About Me
- oxyacetelyne
- fat boring woman with small life, large feet and many footwear.has ability to put aforementioned foot in her mouth with clockwork regularity