E.R. RAMACHANDRAN writes: As the news of the non-availability of a Kannada translator in Parliament for over 6 months spread, I went in search of the elusive Kannadiga in Delhi. Delhi has lakhs of Kannadigas, plus or minus a few thousands.
I knew Karol Bagh had hundreds of Kannadigas, if not thousands. I saw one coming out of an Udupi restaurant in Ajmal Khan Road and asked him whether he would be interested in taking the vacant translator’s job in Parliament. He was suspicious in the beginning and was willing to talk only after verifying my credentials.
“I am quite interested in taking up this job. But I don’t know the Hindi word for aduru—iron ore. I start shaking all over when I hear the word. ’Kai Kaalella adurakke shuru aagutthe’. In the whole news these days it’s only about that word, I don’t want to take this job, even if they pay me 150, 000 per year or 150,00 per month!”
Next, I saw a Kannadiga coming out of Karnataka Bhavan. I asked him whether, he was willing to help out the Karnataka Government and take up the job.
“Bedwe beda Saar! As it is, I find it difficult to keep track of leaders from Karnataka and the party they belong to. I am also unable to differentiate between members of the ruling party and the opposition. Sometimes they oppose one another and in no time they come together to form a government to fight either ‘fascist forces’ or ‘communal forces’. I really don’t know the difference between the two! Also, I have to deal with Hindus, Hindulidavaru, Ahinda and now…. Hindi! It’s all so confusing. Nanganthu saakagi hogide! In fact, recently, I learnt Manipuri language and I am the Manipuri translator in Parliament’!
Next, I met the ‘Dehali Kannadiga’ who is a staunch Kannada supporter and runs a magazine by the same name.
“Why don’t you help the Lok Sabha Speaker by providing a Kannada translator? The Speaker says the last one retired and there is nobody to translate speeches made in Kannada in Parliament.”
“Is that so? This is news to us. Generally, Not many MPs from Karnataka speak in Parliament except to reply to Tamil Nadu MPs’ demand for Cauvery water. Since it recently rained camels and donkeys, we understand the dams are already over- flowing in KRS and Mettur, and there is no fight over ‘Demand and Supply’ of water this year! If I am not mistaken, even our MPs were not aware of the absence of Kannada translator!”
kannaDada paaDu yaavaagaloo haasyakke vastuvaaguvudu sariyalla. kannaDa raajakaaraNigLu, ellaa kannaDigaru gambheeravaagi chintisi krama tegedukoLLabEkaada vichaaravidu.
ERR Rocks! great piece.
Nammooru chendavo, nimmooru chendavo
I asked my beloved on a dreamy night
Which is it that you find lovely
Our town Navilur or your town Honnur,
Which is it that you find lovely
Is our town lovely or your town lovely
Why ask me, be quiet, my king, she said
On the way to our town palm fronds
Bow their heads in greeting
And plantain leaves throw out
Their arms as if to embrace
Jasmine buds on the thorn fences
Sway in joy spreading sweet fragrance
When the smiling girls of our town
Go on their way to your town’s market
The warmth of love stops me to say
That Honnur is where happiness is
When I left our town in your town’s cart
The road just galloped away
The cackle of the little one filled the cradle
When we reached your town
When you saw us at the edge of the town
And asked if all is well
Eyes misted over, lips trembled
And a blush reddened my cheeks
Just beautiful! , Thanks Anil Kumar. ‘Navilurinalli yella Neene balu cheluve…. balu cheluve..
Sir,
Today I have gone through your article. I felt very happpy about sincere efforts made by you to provide an interpreter to the parliament. I also feel happy to inform you that I have joined as interpre in parliament. I am the person to whom you were searched for this post. Please send a mail to me . thank you sir
sir
anil – nice one.
though totally unrelated, i notice one thing – how we ourselves anglicise and northindianise kannada. For example, in this poem, navilooru honnooru has become navilur and honnur. kannada language is built on its musical vowels. We kannadigas writing in english should try to preserve this musical touch by keeping these vowels. So, bengalooru is far better than Bangalore.
these days hindi is also becoming a threat. i am seeing our own bengalooru’s jayanagara being referred to as jainagar (it connotes a north indian town than a beautiful bengalooru layout).
humble request to all writers on this forum. let us write in english as we pronounce in pure kannada – bengalooru, navilooru, jayanagarA, Halasooru, Chikkapaete (not chickpet), chaamaraajapaete (not chamrarajPET), viraajapaete (not virajPET).
many interactions of kannadiga on the web will happen in english and the above suggestion will probably retain a lot of kannadathana.