Pray, it's Goddess English
In Uttar Pradesh, ABCD has found an unmatched reverence with a temple
being built in its name
Vikas.Hotwani
Posted On Sunday, July 04, 2010 at 01:50:25 AM
When a Dalit baby is born in the Lakhinpur Kheri district of UP,
someone from the family whispers ABCD in his left ear and 1,2,3,4 in
the right. Amusing as it may sound, this is the newborn's first brush
with the 'alchemist' language. In a society where caste difference
rears its ugly head every now and then, the language of science has
risen to a level worthy of veneration.
It's not just a passport to success, but a 'Goddess' who stands
witness to nuptials where couples pledge English education for their
future children. The latest show of appreciation is an
under-construction temple dedicated to the Goddess.
"Once a mother starts worshipping Goddess English, her child will
embrace the language too. And when there's a demand (for English and
education at large) from parents, the schools are bound to improve as
well," says Dalit activist and sociologist Chandra Bhan Prasad, the
man behind this endeavour.
In a country where Gods and Goddesses are seldom questioned, devotees
feel that attaching a pious identity to the modern language is the
easiest way to slip it into the realms of everyday life. Thereby,
comes into play the meticulously scripted idol of the Goddess. Holding
a pen in one hand and the Indian Constitution (crafted by a Dalit Dr
Babasaheb Ambedkar himself) in the other, the two-and-a-half feet
bronze idol stands atop a computer whose screen bears the Dhamma
Chakra.
The temple's blueprint echoes the importance of technical knowledge to
accompany the language of science. "The front two pillars will stand
on computer-shaped blocks, the steps will replicate a keyboard and the
roof shall unfold like a book," explains Prasad. The construction that
started a fortnight back aims to be completed by October 25, the
birthday of late Lord Macaulay, the man who initiated English into
India.
Even as the temple comes up in the premises of the Nalanda Public
School, the Goddess that rests in the principal's office already has
worshippers making a beeline for darshan. The success stories of those
who were 'blessed' by this language are there for everyone to see.
Each one wants a share of the aspired life. The veneration is visible
in the humble donations that keep trickling in. "Some even donate
small quintals of wheat," says Prasad.
In the presence of handful activists, scholars, teachers and many
locals, the foundation stone of the 800 sq ft temple was laid with a
simple ceremony. The women got together and sung praises to their new
Goddess. "The idea is to not get caught in rituals. Not that they are
any measures of devotion any way," adds Prasad.
The temple is slowly turning into a flag-bearer of awakening, a
standing 'instruction' for the 500-odd children of the school (and
their parents) of the tried-and-tested formula of success — study
English. As Prasad sums it, "To us, native languages such as Hindi and
Marathi are like night soil. We don't want to carry night soils on our
heads any more. After all, even the government has banned that
practice."
Once a mother starts worshipping Goddess English, her child will
embrace the language
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