Hindi Teachers Poem by Bijay Kant Dubey

Hindi Teachers (In English)

Hindi teachers used to say,
Do not address with
The English words
Sir, may I come in, sir
When seeking permission
And when to thank you
As for
To show politeness or courtesy
Which but never liked I
Their vernacular and clumsy approach
So deep in linguistic chauvinism
Smacking of nationalistic approach
And some radical angle.

Hindi teachers,
Hindi teachers asking to address,
Address with
Mahashaya for sir,
Kya mei ander yaa shakata hun?
For may I come in? ,
Everything in Hindi,
Not in English
Which never, never could I
Approve, approve of and accept
An Englishman I
By birth or intending to be modern.





Hindi Teachers (In Hindi)


Hindi teachers
Mujhe kaha karte thei,
Mujhe sir nahi kahana,
Mahashay kah bulana!

Hindi teachers
Mujhe kaha karte thei
Mujhe sir nahi
Mahashay, mahoday kah pukarana!

May I come in? , nahi,
Kya mai andar yaa shakata hun,
Mahashay? , kah pukarana
Jo mujhe katayi pasand nahi thi.

Sochiye, kitani purani soch thi
Unlogo ki,
Kya jamanaa thaa,
Dikhawati taur par kitanei hindivadi thei wei
Vaastav mei nahi.


N.B. Difference versions.