The East Indian Community
Original Inhabitants of Bombay, Salsette & Thana.
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East indian marathi
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Why dont we speak our east indian marathi in public like how others speak their native language proudly
Categories: Culture
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71 Comments
Hi Tony, That's one thing I regret not knowing how to speak the language. As long as my grandparents were living we spoke an understood the language. Once they passed away...somewhere we lost it and now that I can understand it...I have to make a great effort to speak it. Moreover, now that I am in the US I do not have anyone to speak it with my husband not being a E.I.(Should not have been an excuse). Anyway, the worst part of it is that my children (both born in the US) who love to visit India as often as they can(and other countries too) always question as as to why they were not taught an Indian language. Most of their ethnic (Indian,Spanish,Italian, French etc.) friends speak their language. And though they know Spanish and French its a shame they cannot speak their own language.So please, specially the younger generation....teach your children your language. With businesses going so global, knowing an extra language will not hurt...it will just help them with their businesses or jobs and keep the language alive.
Yes there are many East Indians who speak our East Indian dialect. Especially in my office, when any East Indians meet we do speak in our dialect. Why should one shy out to speak in our mother tongue. You see South Indians, when they meet anywhere, they will speak in their mother tongue without feeling shy. Due to nuclear family, and staying away from our old villages/gauthan, most of our children like to speak in English. We still speak our dialect at home and I am proud that I am an East Indian.
I speak East Indian in Mumbai & India (with our relatives & friends) or in New Zealand with my wife.
I Speak East Indian and will never shy to speak my mother toungue. But there are many who shy away , thinking that their friends may think we are Marathi People. The Fact is that not many people know about your culture and roots. So instead of Shying off , we should be Proud to let them know that we are the original inhabitants unlike the others who are migrants to Bombay.
There are some people who know to speak East Indian , but just dont want to speak , instead prefer to speak in English because they think that would lower their self esteem. There are People who know to speak East Indian , but will not speak thinking that their Maharastrian friends would make fun of our dialect.
Now we have very few youngsters who speak East Indian as their Parents rarely speak or have not taught them or some of them stay away from East Indian villages or Gauthans
There are some people who know to speak East Indian , but just dont want to speak , instead prefer to speak in English because they think that would lower their self esteem. There are People who know to speak East Indian , but will not speak thinking that their Maharastrian friends would make fun of our dialect.
Now we have very few youngsters who speak East Indian as their Parents rarely speak or have not taught them or some of them stay away from East Indian villages or Gauthans
Reply
Loretta
12:19 PM on February 22, 2010
Good for you Sidney! I am so proud of you. I am not ashamed of my mother tongue, I just did not have anyone to speak it with once my grandparents passed away; and as a youngster did not think much about it. Now when I look back I really regret not having learnt it better and my children are now missing out on it too. Keep it up. Take Care.
Reply
nickey
05:55 AM on February 23, 2010
If politocal parties are fighting for marathi to be the state language Tony is right in saying why east indian marathi can not be spoken to atleast on statae level of maharashtra
In the early 1800s due to the industrial revolution in India, particularly Mumbai, during the British rule, the missionaries who ran the schools taught the Marathi speaking children to cultivate the English speaking habit. These English speaking students found it easier to get jobs in the British run companies. Thereafter parents eager to see their children working in the Railways and Sipping companies and Mills conversed with their children in English just for the benefit these children would derive on the jobs. Many EIs even went to the extent of changing their surnames to English names, like smith, franklin, Bar, Flanagin, and so on, just to identify themselves with the Britishers. In time these educated English speaking EIs knew only one language, English. The uneducated Marathi speaking EIs were left out or considered second class EIs. The Urban English speaking EIs who wore trousers and dresses and hats, emulating the British, began to poke fun at the Rural EIs who wore the traditional EI attire. To add to this insult the non East Indian Christians who migrated to Mobai from Goa, Manglore and Kerala, being unable to understand the EI dialect began to make fun of the EIs speaking the Marathi dialect. Over a period of time the English Speaking EIs and the Goan and Manglorean christians far exceeded the marathi speaking EI population. Our mothers begun to shed the lugra and the kapotas and walas and began to robe themselves in frocks and skirts like the other English Speaking Christians mothers and fathers on the island.
As of today there are small pockets of EIs who live in the gaothans as well as on Dharavi Island (Manori to Utan) who still speak the EI Marathi dialect. Even the EI Koli community who because of their education speak English fluently when outside their homes, yet EI marathi dialect within their homes.
I still continue to speak the EI marathi dialect. My wife who was born in an urban EI family learnt to speak the language after our marriage. She is now very comfortable speaking the EI dialect. Today more and more youngsters are advocating the use of EI Marathi and a reawakening of sorts is transforming the EI community.
As of today there are small pockets of EIs who live in the gaothans as well as on Dharavi Island (Manori to Utan) who still speak the EI Marathi dialect. Even the EI Koli community who because of their education speak English fluently when outside their homes, yet EI marathi dialect within their homes.
I still continue to speak the EI marathi dialect. My wife who was born in an urban EI family learnt to speak the language after our marriage. She is now very comfortable speaking the EI dialect. Today more and more youngsters are advocating the use of EI Marathi and a reawakening of sorts is transforming the EI community.
Reply
sidney
09:19 AM on February 25, 2010
Thankyou Walter for the insight about the Industrial revolution and the dwindling EI dialect and culture. I remember My Grand Father who was working for Railways used to wear a Tie and Hat for Office. In those days it was utmost important to be able to speak in English to Get Jobs in Shipping or Railways or Mills. Hence it is understandable that English education is essential and most important to be educated. However our own people have neglected our EI Dialect . In My Family and my relatives everyone speaks EI , which I am proud off. As Far as our Dialect is considered I dont think that it is even listed among the Indian Languages. We do not have any representaion in the Government , though many EI's are doing well in their career's and some of us are still fighting property cases amongst each other and most of us have laid back attitude. Hence our EI Marathi Dialect and Culture remains neglected. I Think this website is a good option to share our views so that the youngsters atleast know something about our Culture.
In the EI majority parishes, why don't some of the parishioners sponsor prizes to be given to the best speakers of the EI dialect? The target contestants should ideally be teenagers, both boys and girls, and this prize could be given with much fanfare at the annual parish social. The spirit of competition among youngsters in that age group will lead to a revival of the EI dialect.
Reply
Steven . A . Pereira
05:36 PM on February 27, 2010
As we say charity,teachings begins at home, we should speak in east indian with our children so that they know well their mother tongue. I personally speak in east-indian with all my friends and there is no reason to be shy infact we should be proud to be a East- Indian Mumbai-kar
Reply
Joseph Philip Gomes
02:16 AM on February 28, 2010
I would really appreciate if there was a blog where we posted our comments in our East-Indian Marathi. It would go a long way to promote our language and a boon to those who really want an access to E.I. Marathi but don't have the means and the contacts. I am sure just reading E.I. Marathi would warm our cockles. Maybe there is a blog already which I don't know, which please advise.
Walter says...
In the early 1800s due to the industrial revolution in India, particularly Mumbai, during the British rule, the missionaries who ran the schools taught the Marathi speaking children to cultivate the English speaking habit. These English speaking students found it easier to get jobs in the British run companies. Thereafter parents eager to see their children working in the Railways and Sipping companies and Mills conversed with their children in English just for the benefit these children would derive on the jobs. Many EIs even went to the extent of changing their surnames to English names, like smith, franklin, Bar, Flanagin, and so on, just to identify themselves with the Britishers. In time these educated English speaking EIs knew only one language, English. The uneducated Marathi speaking EIs were left out or considered second class EIs. The Urban English speaking EIs who wore trousers and dresses and hats, emulating the British, began to poke fun at the Rural EIs who wore the traditional EI attire. To add to this insult the non East Indian Christians who migrated to Mobai from Goa, Manglore and Kerala, being unable to understand the EI dialect began to make fun of the EIs speaking the Marathi dialect. Over a period of time the English Speaking EIs and the Goan and Manglorean christians far exceeded the marathi speaking EI population. Our mothers begun to shed the lugra and the kapotas and walas and began to robe themselves in frocks and skirts like the other English Speaking Christians mothers and fathers on the island.
As of today there are small pockets of EIs who live in the gaothans as well as on Dharavi Island (Manori to Utan) who still speak the EI Marathi dialect. Even the EI Koli community who because of their education speak English fluently when outside their homes, yet EI marathi dialect within their homes.
I still continue to speak the EI marathi dialect. My wife who was born in an urban EI family learnt to speak the language after our marriage. She is now very comfortable speaking the EI dialect. Today more and more youngsters are advocating the use of EI Marathi and a reawakening of sorts is transforming the EI community.
Just to put in a word about EI marathi . the language varies in all the EI communities the kulbies speak one the bhandaries another and kolies an other , and the Churches we go to speak the Kholapur marathi ! where has the actual marathi which one used to get attracted to mass gone ! and yes as an EI i do like my mother tongue but i think its good enough if kids learn and dont forget who they are and speak in a language what they like ! Its what has been sowed what we reap so if one has forgotten the langgage it the fault of some one somewhere!
Reply
nicky
05:16 AM on March 03, 2010
Dr.Myrtle says...
Just to put in a word about EI marathi . the language varies in all the EI communities the kulbies speak one the bhandaries another and kolies an other , and the Churches we go to speak the Kholapur marathi ! where has the actual marathi which one used to get attracted to mass gone ! and yes as an EI i do like my mother tongue but i think its good enough if kids learn and dont forget who they are and speak in a language what they like ! Its what has been sowed what we reap so if one has forgotten the langgage it the fault of some one somewhere!
Reply
nicky
05:23 AM on March 03, 2010
If anybody happens to visit Vasai you will find that each of the villages speak the langauage of their own.
In Nallasopara in Nirmal village if you are not familiar with will not be able to catch any single word from their dilect.It is a business comunity of vasai selling milk & vegetable.Our patron St.Gonsalo Garicia comes from this village called Ghas.
In Nallasopara in Nirmal village if you are not familiar with will not be able to catch any single word from their dilect.It is a business comunity of vasai selling milk & vegetable.Our patron St.Gonsalo Garicia comes from this village called Ghas.
I dont think any of us are ashamed to speak our language in public. It is just that with the younger generation (especially those kids where one of the parent is not an EI) they end up speaking english only because its easier. As in my case where my dad is not an E.I. But i understand the language completely and with great effort i can hold a conversation with an elderly person who may not know english that fluently. But if i have to put my ideas across more easily english comes naturally. So, its not a question of being embarassed. But i do feel that one should learn the language so that so the the coming generations at least know how to communicate in it.
Reply
Cany
04:10 AM on March 05, 2010
Hiie, I am proud to be born as an East Indian... And so I feel proud to speak in east indian, u wont believe, my colleague are maharastrains once they heard my conversation with my Dad on the phone n they asked me which language it was, and i replied east indian and they asked me to teach them too it really sounds nice and sweet since then i speak in east indian and they try..... And to those who dont know our mother tongue its not really difficult like other languageits easy just try. And to those who feel shy of speaking outside "aise karun kaise chalel ghaara bolta na magh bena bi bolana".
bynot! tume sangli kaishi ha, mi EI juhuche gawancha, apun sangli atta east indian marathi madi leaucha shiku yea ani boli boli yea ani che english boltan thiana vachun vachun apli letters appapa shiktin.sorry ....I am also learning to write EI in english words very difficult but lets all of us try.thank you
Reply
nicky
07:52 AM on March 06, 2010
ami sagli bari hau devache kurpeshin .ake bizache sangatan rahun milunjulun.yi duniya hai saglanchee karan tyanich varshi dharlay ama saglyana.tav karav nako konipan zagda ani milun julun ra thiyache ashirwadan ani abharan
Reply
Joseph Philip Gomes
11:16 AM on March 06, 2010
I wud suggest that we have a designated chat room where we can meet and chat in our E.I. Marathi. Let us make the yahoo Mumbai Chat Room No. 13 our chat room. When you log in just type "Kon hai gharan" and the persons already there will know Koni teri nawa pawna ailai and we can start to chat. We can also use the mic to listen to eachother. Yaad thewa MUMBAI CHAT ROOM NO.13. Mee taiyn jateh attah.
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