My school had a version of Mrs.B who would start every Bangla class with "surprise" spelling tests. Students who failed the test were sent on a "walk of shame" through the corridors with her following us, chanting subtle insults such as "Ei dekho aamader Rakhi likhte paarena paakhi." I memorised the alphabets purely out of the fear of public humiliation.
Hi Rohan, an excellent read ! I really enjoyed reading this !
Mrs B - I had a similar situation happen to me on my first day of boarding school when I was 13-15 years old in Himachal (was an English medium school.. begged my Dad to send me from Canada ). Coming from a Punjabi/Hindu background and born in Canada and now mostly in Himachal, I can relate !!
Oh yes, the disdain that is contained in that innocuous word "non-Bengali" ... I have felt it! At the same time, we are judged with more leniency when it comes to speaking the language or watching Bangla films. The sheer glee and genuine affection showered on us for speaking the language is worth the effort put into learning the language :-)
Don’t know how I came across this. Just yesterday, I was thinking of writing “How Bengali I am?”. Enjoyed reading your post. Have been on the receiving end of some of the taunts.
I am a probashi Bangali myself who grew up in Gangtok, I faced casual racism there and when I would go back to meet my relatives in Calcutta as I was proficient in neither languages. While Hindi and Nepali were my second and third languages respectively, my parents forced me to learn Rabindra sangeet and Make luchi Aloo dum in the hope that I find acceptance in the Bengali community when I reach a marriageable age. This was so relatable!!
Ha! So relateable! :D I was a non-singing, dancing probashi B for the first 24 years of my life, and my Mrs B was an English Lit Professor IN DELHI who shamed me for being a Bengali who hadn't read Bengali literature in Bangla. The tribe of True Bongs will also hunt you down online and chide you for disliking machher jhol and Rabindra Sangeet.
My school had a version of Mrs.B who would start every Bangla class with "surprise" spelling tests. Students who failed the test were sent on a "walk of shame" through the corridors with her following us, chanting subtle insults such as "Ei dekho aamader Rakhi likhte paarena paakhi." I memorised the alphabets purely out of the fear of public humiliation.
Oh my god, that's horrible! Some school teachers are just sadistic.
Rohan this is LOVELY. Hilarious and poignant as always! Makes me want to write about my failings as a half-marathi, half-punjabi.
Thanks so much, Amrita! Please do, look forward to reading it. :)
Hi Rohan, an excellent read ! I really enjoyed reading this !
Mrs B - I had a similar situation happen to me on my first day of boarding school when I was 13-15 years old in Himachal (was an English medium school.. begged my Dad to send me from Canada ). Coming from a Punjabi/Hindu background and born in Canada and now mostly in Himachal, I can relate !!
I think Mrs B could well be made into a film!
Totally !
Haha, well, there is Principal Trunchbull in literature/film already.
Oh yes, the disdain that is contained in that innocuous word "non-Bengali" ... I have felt it! At the same time, we are judged with more leniency when it comes to speaking the language or watching Bangla films. The sheer glee and genuine affection showered on us for speaking the language is worth the effort put into learning the language :-)
True, co-option gladdens the Bengali heart. :D
I could recommend a few titles for light reading
Oh, believe me, I know you can, my friend!
So good.
Thanks a ton, Sarthak!
Don’t know how I came across this. Just yesterday, I was thinking of writing “How Bengali I am?”. Enjoyed reading your post. Have been on the receiving end of some of the taunts.
Glad you liked it, thank you!
I am a probashi Bangali myself who grew up in Gangtok, I faced casual racism there and when I would go back to meet my relatives in Calcutta as I was proficient in neither languages. While Hindi and Nepali were my second and third languages respectively, my parents forced me to learn Rabindra sangeet and Make luchi Aloo dum in the hope that I find acceptance in the Bengali community when I reach a marriageable age. This was so relatable!!
I am glad this spoke to you, Teesta! Thank you for reading. :)
I don't know if acceptability is the right motivator but knowing how to make luchi aloo dum is a big win!
Ha ha ha....quite enjoyed it..
Thank you, Uncle!
The ending has to be with a egg roll I guess 😝
Yep, always and forever.
Ha! So relateable! :D I was a non-singing, dancing probashi B for the first 24 years of my life, and my Mrs B was an English Lit Professor IN DELHI who shamed me for being a Bengali who hadn't read Bengali literature in Bangla. The tribe of True Bongs will also hunt you down online and chide you for disliking machher jhol and Rabindra Sangeet.