It has been many years since our
independence from European colonialism, but have we been liberated from colonial
thinking? Think about the answer to this question, here are a few examples to
help you get the answer.
1. In a reputed restaurant in Rajkot, we
often go to dine with friends and family, according to their rules, the staff
there pays proper attention. Surprisingly, when I took a European dignitary
with me, half of the hotel staff and manager gathered around the table and
started asking for food and the ambiance of the restaurant, offered some free complimentary
dishes, and acted like someone VVIP is paying a visit. I don't understand that
for them all people are customers, so isn't it a slavish mentality to entertain
someone differently in this way?
2. No one can answer a question today if
you want to go to a meeting, why is it mandatory to wear a blazer? Even in the
scorching heat of summer here, people don't understand what they want to show
by wearing a blazer! Maybe I didn't get the freedom to think of pleasing the
British Babu. Today the wearer of ordinary clothes is considered rude. For no
reason are the people trying to show themselves as members of the British
Empire?
3. I don't have any problem with the English
language; I also use it a lot. But in general, I do not hesitate to use
Gujarati and Hindi as a medium of communication. But laughter comes when some
of our so-called superstars who have proven poverty in a common-sense show an
inability to speak a language other than English. After all, do people find it
difficult to speak in their language? The protest here is not about language,
it is about mentality. Knowing only English is opposed to hollow behavior.
4. Wearing a tie is shown as a sign of
proper attire but if you go with Tilak on the forehead, the Indians of British
mentality will start making fun of you and start calling believers of outdated
thinking, non-modern people, and many more such tags. Living inside India, a
Hindu majority country and yet we call going to temple and putting Tilak on the
forehead outdated thinking shows how much strong the roots of colonialism are.
5. In the so-called Indian film industry, all functions, and shows happen in English, they speak English only, and being asked in Hindi or the local language, they pretend like they don't understand the language. Such a state of mind that elitism comes with looking like a westner and speaking their language is the biggest issue with them and with the people who get influenced by them.
It is important to mention a few of these
examples that I have experienced, but it is also important to note that there
are very few writers in the Gujarati language today whom we can read. At the
same time, there are fewer and fewer thinkers who teach innovative work using
native languages
As long as we are not proud of the fact
that we are Indians, we will remain as part of the British colony in our minds.
Today we need to connect with our roots and strengthen the future. Whether it
is art or science, we move in a new direction, blind imitation of someone will
not take the offering anywhere. To walk with the world, one needs to have
knowledge of many languages and many cultures, but to be like someone is a
sign of stupidity.
We must feel proud of our country and its
colorful culture. Let’s try to make the country move forward and people around
the world copy us. Need to say what you think about this.
