But why won't anyone learn Marathi? It is my own language. It was declared the national language in a Congress session. SD: Officially it is the national language. SD: Hindi has been declared the national language, that's why. Why? Why are we being forced with a dosage of Hindi? You learn our Marathi. In all this, our states came into being because of languages and cultures, right? When Lal Krishna Advani goes to the South he speaks in English instead of Hindi. And this is a 'Europe' made up of various cultures. This means there is one currency and numerous languages and cultures. SD: Taking the democracy argument further, in a country like India, who decides which person has the right to be in whichever part of the country? RT: If that happens, the Malayalees are right. SD: What if a Maharashtrian living in Kerala is told, 'you can't speak Malayalam, so get out.' Whoever lives in whichever state should learn the culture of the state and its language. Similarly, people from other states live in Maharashtra. When states were created on linguistic basis, who went where? Today many Marathi people live outside the state. The question is not who should live here and who shouldn't. Since I was a child, I have seen the Ram Lila near my house. RT: Let me complete talking about the issue. SD: But if those Bengali people cannot speak in Marathi, then? What's the connection? I was going anyway. Since my childhood I have been attending Durga Puja with my mother, at Shivaji Park. If you understand the issue you will understand what I am saying. RT: Marathi is not good enough? Understand my main issue. SD: Had I not been a Marathi manoos, would you still have met me? Suppose my Marathi is not good enough. First I have a dialogue, if that is not understood I speak in another language. And secondly, I speak to people in the language they understand. SD: But you have not answered the question on violence. But from among the 100 to 125 crore population, such a big party found a woman from outside the country. Am I opposing Sonia Gandhi on a personal level? There is no reason for that. I only want to say, the population of India is about 100 to 125 crores. So it's better not to speak about him because this has been going on for many years. He created a political party based on the 'swadeshi, pardeshi' fact. RT: Don't bring up the subject of Sharad Pawar. What could be more contradictory than this? That Congress is being run by a foreign woman today. RT: The point is the Mahatma gave the call of swadeshi and khadi. SD: Is Gandhiji relevant to the common public? It was not for those who don't understand this language. RT: I feel Mahatma Gandhi's non-violence was for the intelligent, educated British. Perhaps its bark is worse than its bite? As we hope is his master's. There were gifts galore ( including a bottle of Moet) carelessly strewn all over the busy household, filled with visitors nervously putting up with Raj's pet - a noisy pug, Simba. though the tape recorder was switched off a couple of times at his request. Mumbai." Impassioned and politically incorrect throughout, Raj responded to the questions with customary confidence.
Each time I said Bombay (force of habit), Raj would immediately correct me with a sharp "Mumbai. Ironically, it was Gandhi Jayanti - non-violence day! Raj was chivalrous enough to seek my permission to puff away. The interview was conducted in Marathi at Raj and Sharmila's Shivaji Park residence. I suspect he met me because of my maiden surname (Rajadhyaksha), and the fact that whether he likes it or not, I am a Marathi manoos. He is dynamic, charismatic and hugely intelligent. If you see a dictator in me, I am fine with it.
0 kommentar(er)
