CAN YOU WILL ...

It was one of the Saturdays of October’ 2006. I was sitting across the table to the principal of ‘Blessings'. I was attending a PTM and she was gratifying me with her valuable feedback on Vasu. Vasu joined Blessings in February the same year. The domineering principal of 'a truly English-medium playschool' told me with a distinct hint of frustration, " Your son is an absolute Hindi speaking kid!" She distorted her face to drag her lower jaw even lower and swelled out her lower lip to act out one of Vasu’s innocent remarks to her," Ped pe chidiya baithi hai m'am!" Her face sprung back to its normal contour as she added, “He just does not speak in English. Well... at least he understands all of us as we speak to him. You should speak to him in English at home." Months have passed by ever since. Today, Vasu is at least seven months elder. He understands and speaks English reasonably well. His sentences have grammatical errors, but he has grasped the basic fundamental of sentence formation - something I learnt only when I was well versed with how to read and write. He amuses me when I call him up from office and he makes it a point to reply me back in the foreign language on preferential basis. He makes very to the point conversations over the phone. I guess he does not like talking to the instrument, even if a voice is audible from the other side and even if it is recognizable as belonging to an acquaintance. Rarely does he hold a conversation with me over the phone... I do not know whether I unintentionally exerted pressure, or was it the play school, but whenever he needs to speak to me about something or tell me about something consciously, he uses English. Nowadays he frequently asks English translations of Hindi words that he cannot translate himself. In the middle of telling me something, he would ask, “Mama! ‘ladne’ ko English main kya kehtein hain?” As I reply, “Fight.” He would instantly continue, “Mama! I don’t fight with my brother.” He would ask me to rebuke Darsh when he opines his conduct objectionable. He would command me courteously,” Mama! Please tell Darsh, don’t hit me!” When I oblige him instantly in a rather feeble tone by his expectations, he commands, “Mama! Say faster!” I correct him, “Do you mean louder?” He answers back, “Yes! Say loudly to Darsh!” I oblige with finesse this time to suit his criterion and am let off with approval. Then he reiterates the censure in a louder tone of voice, and thus exercises and proves that is he (Vasu) is elder to him(Darsh). Nowadays, his languages, both English and Hindi, are facing their worst days. Be it in terms of fluency or making sense, neither language helps him express himself adroitly. May be he is experimenting with the languages too much. Or may be he has unlearnt all mugged up lessons.. His pet dialogue nowadays is, “ Can you will …?" - "Can you will give me water?”, “Can you will push my swing?”, “Can you will give me a pen?” I would correct, “Vasu either use will or can. They are not used together.”, as if he will learn thus. Now I have started correcting him by telling the right way to say it. “Vasu say, could you please push my swing?” It is a tried and tested formula with Vasu… I gather he has learnt most of his present understanding of English by listening to such corrections or norms of speaking from me, and of course his teachers and even Harry Potter/ Polar Express/ Finding Nemo/ Ice Age I movies to some extent. Now, it does not matter whether and when would he refine his grip on the languages. All that always mattered to me was overcoming the initial hitch that impedes most of us in progressing with a new language, specifically English. Once that is overcome and the child finds the language no big issue, the job is done according to me! Love you Vasu! May one day you overwhelm me by surpassing my parameters of superlative excellence and make me too proud to handle! May true knowledge, true conduct and true ideal find home in your heart and mind very very very soon! Amen!