Why do you use English in certain situations and not in others?

Well now that you brought this to notice I agree that in most formal situations I tend to use English and in informal conversations Hindi. But there is no hard and fast rule. 90% times when I have to discuss my work with the colleagues I have used English and 10% times Hindi, and when I have to discuss work colleagues ( ah! okay gossip) , national politics I will use 80% times Hindi, 20% English.

But this division is not very difficult to understand. English is a second language something we acquire at school and it takes times to be proficient in it. Whereas mother tongue is the first language we learn. All our important demands in the initial years are made in the mother tongue. In fact, some schools had punishments if we were caught talking in the mother tongue. This was to make us proficient in English (draconian I agree). So even as kids while we will tend to have most intimate conversation in the mother tongue, our homework- essay in English, history, science etc. tends to be in English.
May be that’s why English is kind of a work language and mother tongue is for more intimate sort of banter.

Is it ever OK for me to struggle through Hindi, Urdu or Bengali with you because I’m a student? Or is it artificial and weird to depart from English, the language that we know we both speak?
I don’t think it’s a crime.

Finally, how much does language reinforce the notion of being separate people — and in a way, separate countries — inside a democracy whose borders were drawn by other people many years ago?

Good question. It only matters to politicians. See even if we are diverse there is something that unites us. I don’t know what. Indian nationalism has puzzled scholars too. While one may admit British to have brought us together, there are important puzzles. Like British India also had Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Burma (Myanmar). But somehow these were never assimilated. Whereas right from the start the three presidency- Bombay, Madras, Calcutta had separately formed Indian associations which before the rise of Congress actively participated in protecting Indian rights. They thought they are Indians! I may discuss Tamil question someday, but not today.

Happy Festivities!

This is the beginning.

“I dont’ know”.

A lifetime of learning.

Is called for.

And yet not enough.

To know.

Even with the internet.

And Google.

This statement is ironic because the author has used the word “communal” in reference to something that Katju wrote.

Who said the following?
“80% of Hindus are communal, 80% of Muslims are communal, and 90% of Indians are idiots”

The word “communal” in Indian English is a strongly negative word. It is always used to imply segregation & divisiveness and hatred. For example, an Indian journalist might write, “The BJP’s communal politics has led to an increase in communal violence”. Perhaps the author should brush up on Indian English, lest he go about inadvertently confusing his Indian readers.

Here is Katju’s article in same Newspaper that the author has referred (The Hindu) is which Katju uses the repeatedly uses the word “communal” and always in the negative sense that is standard in Indian English.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news  /katju-says-90-indians-are-idiots/artic le4178819.ece

PS: Roubiert, do you have any idea about the communal origins of name “Katju”? For example, MacMillan is a name originating in Alba, so what is the equivalent region of origination for the name Katju? Is that a Kankubhji name? I know it sounds like it has something to do with the practise of circumsion in the Semitic-speaking lands to the west, but I don’t think it is a foreign name. I wondered if you had any insight into its origins? If you hear anything, please let your readers know. Thank you.