I was getting ready to sleep on the iron chairs arranged in the form of a cot in the reception area of Madras Medical Mission Hospital as my mom was in the ICU for an ailment. The lights were being dimmed and then I heard a quaint voice in Tamil Neenga night list receipt vaangitteengalaa? Have you got the receipt for staying for the night?
More than the question, his Tamil interested me. I could see he was from the north east. The writer in me woke-up and began a conversation with him.
He was Sanjay Roy from Assam who was fluent in Bengali, Assamaese, Hindi, English and now, Tamil. Having been a security guard in Chennai for the last four years, his natural affinity for languages made him learn Tamil. And here he was, talking to me in a slow yet steady Tamil. He spoke better than many of the TV announcers.
What I learnt from him that night :
- He was a Bengali, settled in Assam who was working in Chennai.
- It took 3 days for him to go home by train.
- There was no development in Assam.
- Tarun Gogoi and ULFA – both are goons who extracted money from the ordinary folks.
- BJP was the only hope and he was hoping for the party’s win.
My final question to him: How did you learn Tamil so fast?
He said,’Indian language thaane sir, rumba easy. Interest venum, avlodhan’ It is another Indian language and hence it is very easy to learn. You should have an interest to learn the language.
Only if the Tamil chauvinists were like Sanjay !
Amaruvi's Aphorisms 
Incredible mindset to love all Indian languages. Flair in learning languages is highly appreciable.
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Yes, that is India and that is how Indians are. Thanks for stopping by.
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