Topic started by p~n (@ bgp385601bgs.jersyc01.nj.comcast.net) on Sat Jun 7 20:07:49 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Earlier today, I posted this topic under Indian History, thought I wud post under TN History as well.

I doubt if our leaders really had a vision when they reorganized the country on linguistic basis. It's not the natural terrain that divide us, rather it's the wall of words - the mode of communication. We should have probably lived with the provincial structure left over by British or considered a better way of reorganizing India. Instead, we opted for a division based on principal language spoken, which has only helped widen the fissures we had. Today, we stand deeply divided, with no common language (Hindi and English serve to some extent) and narrowed thinking with a "My state, my people" attitude.

And, did anyone consider the plight of the linguistic minorities during reorganization? It sealed their fate and they had no other go, but to align themselves with the majority linguistic group. In few of my friends' families (in southern part of TN), they used to speak Telugu at home few generations ago, but not any more - they speak Tamil now.

Historically, no country with a multilingual structure, with states divided on linguistic basis is known to have survived long.

Your views, please...

Responses:

• From: Harish Kumar (@ 203.195.215.254) on: Sun Jun 8 10:54:50 EDT 2003
  
  Minorities would have existed in provincial structure as well and problems would have been greater as in many provinces there would have been no clear majority...blood bath would have resulted.
  
  Telugu cannot survive in tamil atmosphere.If there had been only madras province kannada would definitely bcom extinct and so also telugu.Only reason kannadigas are speaking kannada is they were give an separate state to them.They would have long turned to tamil speaking or marathi speaking populations way back.
  
  Linguistic orgainistion has been kinder to weaker languages like kannada and telugu.
  
  Now only your family does not speak telugu.If madras province was there no telugu speaking fellow would ahev been left in this world.
  
  So thank god we have LO of states
  
  
• From: tony (@ sdn-ap-022njpennp0208.dialsprint.net) on: Mon Jun 9 00:58:48 EDT 2003
  
  linguistic provinces have given encouragement to chauvnism and narrow mindedness. That is the reason you see the kind of writing in F.H., the fight that kannada is derived from tamil or tamil is derved from kannada. Each state is trying to force people to study the state language and forget about a link language. If there were no linguistic state then each parent will have the right to choose the language he or she wants the children to learn.Hindi should not be forced on people. The people realise that if one has to succeed in life and open the doors for employment outside their own state then another language should be learnt.Thus a tamilian might like to learn jannada or malyalam or hindi and he should have the right to do so and not kalaignar,jj or lallo prasad all uneducated uncouth corrupt crooks.
  
  
• From: Harish Kumar (@ 203.195.215.254) on: Mon Jun 9 09:41:58 EDT 2003
  
  Chauvinism is bcos of bad leaders.They would exist anyway and create problems even in madras presidency.
  
  
• From: Sal (@ aca08db6.ipt.aol.com) on: Fri Jun 13 02:47:09 EDT 2003
  
  >>the fight that kannada is derived from tamil or tamil is derved from kannada.
  
  No Kannadiga ever said Tamil is derived from kannada. Are you stupid, tony?
  
  
• From: Harish Kumar (@ 203.195.215.254) on: Fri Jun 13 12:11:39 EDT 2003
  
  //No Kannadiga ever said Tamil is derived from kannada. Are you stupid, tony?//
  
  Sal, are you a kannadiga or Tamil ?
  
  Anyway we kannadigas don't waste our time in such silly fights.
  
  

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