Archive for July, 2021
Top Five Books To Learn Hindi Posted by Nicole Herbert Dean on Jul 30, 2021
I studied Hindi in school from 2nd grade to the 10th grade. We had to take a public Hindi assessment मूल्यांकन as well as pass our teacher’s exams परीक्षा in order to graduate from high school. In addition के अतिरिक्त to studying Hindi in my Catholic run English school, my parents hired a tutor शिक्षक…
Devanagari or English Hindi? Posted by Nicole Herbert Dean on Jul 30, 2021
I recently had to evaluate मूल्यांकन करना a written sample in Hindi. When I opened up the document दस्तावेज़, it was Hindi alright but written in English. How was I to score it? Well, I scored it on grammar व्याकरण but could not on writing. Sounds odd अजीब doesn’t it? This is not the…
The Transformation of Hindi Films Posted by Nicole Herbert Dean on Jul 23, 2021
While growing up in Bollywood, literally सचमुच, I did not watch Bollywood movies. That’s because theaters were usually packed with men, yelling चिल्ला, whistling, and catcalling at the screen. For my safety’s sake, I refrained परहेज from going to movie theaters that showed Hindi movies. However, I did watch the occasional प्रासंगिक movie that was…
Hindi, English and Hindutva Posted by Nicole Herbert Dean on Jul 14, 2021
Did you know that it was a Christian missionary प्रचारक, William Carey, who innovated the Hindi language with technology in India? He created printing मुद्रण fonts and the Hindi bible, the first prose work in print in India. The contribution योगदान of Christian missionaries like Carey are the most underreported stories in the history of…
When Language Hurts – Gharwapsi Posted by Nicole Herbert Dean on Jul 13, 2021
A few years ago, someone posted a sign at Nagpur Airport, with the words, “Your Christianity is a Samasya समस्या (problem), So our mission is Gharwapsi”. It went on to read, ” No Christianity, Only Hindutva, No Bible, Only Bhagvad Gita. Either convert धर्मांतरित or else leave our Hindurashtra (Hindu State) soon. Will erase Christianity…
Father Stan, Dalits and Caste Posted by Nicole Herbert Dean on Jul 8, 2021
This week India lost a freedom fighter स्वतंत्रता सेनानी Father Stan Swamy fought for the rights of the Dalits दलितों. He was jailed at 83 years old with frail health. His spirit survives even though his body gave up. Who are the Dalits? Who are the Dalits that Father Stan Swamy fought so passionately for?…
Who is an Indian Aunty? Posted by Nicole Herbert Dean on Jul 2, 2021
The Indian aunty चाची is not only your mother’s मां or father’sपिता जी sisters बहन- she is anyone to whom you want to give an honorific संमानित title. This could mean, your neighbor पड़ोसी next door, the lunch lady, your friend’s मित्र mom, etc. I held this view growing up until recently would encourage प्रोत्साहित…