Note before you read this piece. This particular article and three more were pending for approval with a news editor but I think it’s high time I get them to be read.

Sandhya an architect by profession calls out for her two year old daughter to come inside the house and play and the chubby toddler replies in a language that was never her grandma’s or even her mother’s original native language. With society changing its face in the form of globalization, English has entered our lives in way it is almost becoming our primary language. In addition with curriculums being dictated and taught in Queen’s language urban Indians are increasingly speaking to their children in English rather than their own native language

In the last decade modern India has witnessed an upsurge in intercaste marriages and this maybe one reason why parents feel it is better to communicate in one universal language that is accepted globally rather than speaking to the kid in two regional languages. Moreover with colleges and workspaces having one unifying language which is English, it is conveniently spoken amongst couples and passed on to children.

Some may consider it to be a surprise that a language when traced down in the country’s history is actually a contribution of invaders is grabbing more attention than any other regional language in urban India. But for couples who speak in this language more than their own mother tongues feel it is the influence of globalization and many admit they have grown up thinking and speaking in English and that habit is continued with children too. This also maybe a trend in cities like Bangalore where the culture that predominates itself is cosmopolitan and the result is that it is people have adopted modern lifestyles so how language could be left behind?

Says Shiril Pinto, a HR professional, “I am in a mixed marriage where my mother tongue is Konkani and my husband’s is Bengali but because we were unable to learn each other’s languages we have resorted to speak to our three old kid in English. Also as we have always communicated to each other prior to marriage in this language so it just continued as a natural progression of communication at home.”

There are other reasons like being educated in convent schools and the belief that children who are able to speak in flawless English right from young age are able to work in global environments much better with the diction, grammar and pronunciation having leant perfectly from young age.

This is the case of Smitha Roy who feels speaking in English to her two plus daughter Aahna is something which is natural as she and her husband have always spoken in English as a matter of convenience. She further adds, “However one thing we make sure is that Aahana learns correct language skills so that her diction, pronunciation is by far the best. Yet we are ensuring she learns Kannada as well from her grandparents whenever she visits them at their place, as I don’t want her to feel when she’s grown up that she did not get the opportunity to learn any other language very well other than English”

According to Nandini Ashok an educator who runs a preschool, “I think one reason is there is an increase in mixed marriages. Another reason for rising popularity of English is parents these days generally find he interview process at the kindergarten level a procedure cumbersome enough where he or she is spoken and interview in English as the primary language. This according to me is unfair to the child and in a certain way pressurizes parents to speak in English. “

If one thinks it is the case of intercaste marriages which India has witnessed as a boom factor to be the contributor for speaking in English a parent like Chaitra Kiran has another perspective to offer. “I do speak in Kannada and am very much married within the same community. Yet I feel parents like me have started stressing on English is because we see children are not able to understand anything if they are not on par with this language and somehow it has become the unifying language in activity centres, play areas like in upscale apartments and so on

Many consider that it is a fact that malls or kids activity centres or for that matter schools communicate in English as it is easier to converse in one language rather than multiple languages. Though they may help children to understand though other languages as well it is obviously the Queen’s language that is gaining prominence in places like bookstores, preschools and this is indirectly making parents speak in English.

Yet undeniably the bottom line is that given the choice urban Indians want to focus on multiple languages mainly their` own native mother tongue as many feel children will be better quipped irrespective they live in India or elsewhere if they have knowledge of many languages.

I am doing good at my work and suddenly find myself thinking more on motherhood, pregnancy, parenting as that is part of my job profile. It’s a month since I have joined and I like what I am doing though I do feel at times I am perhaps doing more than my expected job profile, but then it’s all part of learning so good enough. However on a personal note, I have realized, I am going to be fine only if my little one is going to be fine at day care, emotionally, physically and just healthy.

BTW the reason I wanted to write this piece is the hoardings of a jewellery brand that has caught my attention since the last few months. Unlike several jewellery brands except for one or two like Tanishq who use exquisite jewellery pieces and models. However I thought I had caught it wrong when around two months ago I saw a plain model with hardly any flashy jewellery noticeable showcased on a huge hoarding of Ganjam.

I thought it was one of the pictures and it vanished from my mind soon. But recently another one with another plain looking model with just her hair focused and the piece of jewellery on it. This I felt was too bland compared to bangle melas and models in other jewellery brands that deck up in gold more than they clothe themselves. Ganjam’s recent hoardings are too bland but hey… maybe that’s the idea. Be apart from the rest. And yes bland can catch attention too but donno if it will convert possible customers to walk into their showroom because of such hoardings.

Also it maybe an attempt to connect with modern women who want non fussy stuff rather than being decked up. Although I am fall into both categories, at times I do dress up like in a very traditional avatar including jewellery and sometimes one can catch me completely de glam and no accessories at all.

Come to think of it Ganjam’s recent hoardings do catch attention but I don’t think it will make people crave for their jewellery pieces as the models even though plain need to emote little more for a woman to connect with her and the jewellery brand.

It’s good and strange feeling that I am back to be working in a corporate office even though it is part time for the present. After Rediffusion everything in a full time career seemed a bit boring. No offence for the agency as even today I consider it to be a good stint given the taste of reputed pr firm environment and the pay. But…I was not really enjoying what I was doing and I had to reinvent myself in terms of career growth. People have considered me to be foolish when seven years ago I had mentioned to them I have left my double digit salary for a job that hardly covered my expenses of going until there. But thanks to radio I had a new high in life and new confidence that proved to me you can be polished and be a good RJ even though you don’t sound husky!

I am writing this post as I have joined Cloud Nine (earlier Cradle) hospital, a specialized maternity hospital as their  Communication consultant. It’s a small start as I work only part time here but I am definitely hoping to do better and get a better designation and career prospect through this role. Again I guess all my PR skills, writing skills, imaginative skills are coming to test and let’s see how I fare in it. I am going to be seeing lots of babies, mums to be and writing lots of stuff on parenting for Cloud Nine.

Incidentally my little one was born in the same hospital almost two years ago and now it’s kind of coming back home.

Keep you posted on more such things. I will be continuing to write for other publications even though the frequency might go down a bit. Wish me luck and thanks for reading this.

 It was after many years that I had decided to continue my studies and after filling the admission form I was at the table who was getting the registrations done for a post graduation course particularly in English. As I waited for the documents to be filled, the gentleman in front of me asked “So you are working?” I said “Yes I am an independent writer.” Then came the next question “You are married?” I smiled and said yes. I was wondering if these questions had anything to do with my intention to do the course. It was the final question that made me think in general, how the so called English speaking population speak in India?

“Do you have any issue?” The question made me say to myself. I have several issues in life. But how would you really help me out if my maid has not turned up at the right time or I am stressing myself trying to multi task things. Suddenly it hit upon me he was asking if I had any child?

I reluctantly said yes, not sure if this was the answer to the question, “One”. He said “ha, you are sure you will be able to study further and work with a small child?” As I agreed in positive nod and got up from there the conversation set me thinking of specific Indian English terms which only we Indians can mange to understand. Like the usage of the word co–brother. I believe this is more often used in south India and has got the distinct ability to be referred one of the unique Indian words. It refers to one’s wife’s sister’s husband. Other words that can be categorized truly Indian are words like time pass or a word that had my boss at my first job when I was a twenty something fuming at me on her bad day at work. I even now remember her fuming and saying “Can’t you say eraser instead of rubber? That sounds so polished.” Eraser is something that will never erase from my memory.

For that matter words that have come of age are found in the books that you buy for your child or the recipes you read on blogs will make you learn that brinjal is no longer cool. It is after all called the eggplant.

As I made my way towards another office where I had some work I was called out “Aunty! the line starts here. Please come here.” I said why don’t you call me Ma’m instead of Aunty and she was in no mood to listen. With a sigh I did realize Uncle and Aunty were amongst hundreds of other words that will take a long time to be replaced by other words in this country. Until then we have to accept these words and phrases as uniquely Indian understood by Indians.

The single most element that has come to rule urban living is convenience. Be it in communication, travel, food, clothing and even parenting, people do certain things as it is the most convenient thing to do and makes life simple and easy. A brief research is presented here as to how modern day lifestyle is increasingly governed by convenience.

This was the idea I had thought of writing for a publication. The newspaper had even approved it but it never got published. I found this piece recently and felt like putting this atleast on my blog. Hope you have a good read.

Increasingly life in a metro seems to be governed by one single factor and it points out to ‘convenience’. Every aspect of our living has come to be engulfed by this major factor as it is perceived to makes life easy. People do not mind going heavier on the pocket to adopt a convenient lifestyle. Whether it shopping, travel, clothing, household chores or for that matter even parenting has embraced convenient living. Either it is to save time or lead relaxed life or it is believed that convenience is luxury affordable. Is it that people want to do anything to be stress free or are there more things to be done than ever before, hence convenience is the obvious answer to modern day living?

 City bred people have found ease of life in concepts like supermarkets, malls, satellite channels as each one of them promised convenience more than anything for the hectic lifestyle of urban living. If one were to understand, people believe this is something that is become next to our daily routine just as we eat drink or breathe. Be it gadgets, utility elements or routines; modern day lifestyle has made urbanites seek convenience in every form.

 Using one’s own vehicle is perceived to be better than public transport as it saves time and is handy even though it may turn to be expensive. Even the role of a homemaker has changed with companies churning out innovative appliances every day to make her life easy.

 The simple mode of communicating with each other has been taken over by fancy tools obviously as newer gadgets are convenient. Right from mobiles to Internet and palmtops traditional modes of communication like snail mails have become rarity as it is far more inconvenient in usage than modern technologies. Says Kauser Khan, Etiquette and grooming consultant, “ For me, technologies that have absolutely enhanced convenience are e-mail and cell phones. Whether it is for a professional or a personal need, even to keep track my children, these gadgets have turned to be the need of the time. They are precise and save considerable amount of time and it is easy for me to do more number of things in life.”

 It is not just gadgets that people have started feeling that it has made life simple. Services that make sure utility products are at doorstep are a way of enhancing convenience. Says Vani Mahesh, Proprietor, Easylib.com, “ Starting an online library way back in 2001 was only to cater to an audience that understands convenience using technology. It is true that something like Internet has amazingly become as part of daily life like kitchen appliances. In our case getting books delivered home using technology or as part of premium service is only because Internet is no longer expensive and highly reliable.”

 Affordability, rising incomes, improving standard of living has made people opt for services or usage of technologies that is perceived to enhance convenience. It may sound good to many but presenting slightly different viewpoint is Dr. Ali Khwaja, Career counselor, “ In the race of rushing against time and improving our standard of living I feel we are getting competitive, insecure and generally a sense of losing control over life.  Hence, any gadget or activity that promises quick relief, flexibility, convenience, is being grabbed whatever may be the cost.”

Adding further he mentions, “Yet I do understand that the younger generation considers gadgetry as essential to their basic living, because they have never lived without it.   I personally feel that the younger generation should be given an opportunity to know what it means to live without electronics and electricity, something like gadget free days to show that life can be led with much ease even without gadgets.”

 For a young mother of two kids Shruthi Tripathi, “Convenience has embraced every aspect of our life and it is no surprise motherhood can be left behind. With women getting to work faster post motherhood, this phase of life has adopted many things to make the role of mother easier right from bottles to pacifiers and prams amongst host of other utility items.”

 Obviously convenience is perceived differently by different people. Yet the rise in incomes, belief that it saves time and helps in happier living has made urbanites look for the c word in everything.

 BY RESHMA KRISHNAMURTHY SHARMA