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CIRCUS OF LANGUAGES

Updated: Jun 28, 2022

I grew up in an atmosphere where English, as a language, played a very very important role. I recall, we had to pay a fine of Rs. 1/- if we spoke in any vernacular language. This was implemented by our Spoken English teacher.

Fair Enough.

But she would enter the class and before even settling down would just throw me out. Well, I still have no clue why ? In an utter state of confusion, once I even asked my father, 'Did you forget to pay my school fees ?'

Anyways, once a teacher came on substitution in place of the Spoken English Teacher. My role number usually would be 73. Thank God, role numbers were alphabetically arranged as per our surnames. Else if arranged by results, my role number would have been the last probably.

So he called out, “Role number 73″

I said, “Present Sir”.

Then he asked, “Name ?” (as if my name was not written in the attendance register).


I replied, “Anupam”.

He said, "Full name"

I replied, “Anupam Sen Gupta”

Then he asked me in Bangla, 'Tomar naam ki ?' (What's your name ?).

So, I replied in pure Bangla accent, “Onupom Shen Goopto”

He asked me again in English and I replied, “Anupam Sen Gupta”

To my surprise, he asked me in Bangla and again I replied, “Onupom Shen Goopto”.

Needless to say, he thought I was pulling his leg and grabbed me by the hand and took me to higher authorities.

When asked, I said “ When my teacher asked me in English, I replied in English, Sir. When he asked in Bangla, I replied in Bangla, Sir. Actually, I have spent all my pocket money Sir and can't pay Rs. 1/- as fine for speaking in the wrong language, Sir !”

Well, this didn't go well and I got super rogered yet once again.

Cheers !

(disclaimer - images have been sourced from the internet. we dont have any claim on them. used as reference)

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