It was a holiday. My son was watching television when I reached home from the market.
Seeing him glued on TV, I asked: “Did you complete your home work?”
“No, I didn’t completed”, he said.
“Didn’t completed? Don’t say like that, ‘didn’t complete’ is the correct.” I started with my usual masterpiece word “correct”.
I used to teach him the importance of grammar and pronunciation, by narrating stories.
Once, a teacher asked his students: “Spell the word “kkknife” (knife).
One student answered: “I don’t kkknow” (know), Sir.
The Inspector, watching the performance of students and teacher said:
“Both (the pronunciations) are wwwrong (wrong).” This was a fun story I made myself, I agreed, when my daughter and he fondly pressured me.
On another occasion, when he was seen little sleepy, I said the story of Ganga Ram.
When I was in Chandigarh, one of my acquaintances sent me a guy for a job of a Steno-typist.
The guy’s name was Ganga Ram. I made arrangements for Ganga Ram’s job in a company, and asked him to appear for test and interview the next day. Hearing this, Ganga Ram, pretended severe head ache. I asked him what the reason was.
After a long question-answer session, Ganga Ram said that he never gone to any institute for studying typewriting and shorthand! Hearing it, I was shocked.
* * *
Ganga Ram’s father was a government employee, but a drunkard. His father never bothered to check how well his children were studying. His mother was not much studied.
Ganga Ram, used to leave his home, saying that he was going to the town where he enrolled for typewriting and shorthand class. But, he spent the time in public reading room, just turning the pages and looking at the advertisements and pictures largely of cinema or wandering in the town. Every month he collected fees from his home, but spent them for eating and watching matinee shows.
To impress his mother, he used to take home some typed papers collected from his friend who was enrolled in the institute for typewriting and shorthand!
* * *
Hearing the story, Ganga Ram was advised to go back to his home, but he was not willing to do so. Reaching at Chandigarh he realized the need of education. But, at that time it was too late.
At last, I sent Ganga Ram to a small factory, run by one of my local friends in Chandigarh. Ganga Ram didn’t know any language other than his mother tongue, Malayalam. Similarly, as was the case of the factory owner who was thorough only in Punjabi and Hindi. Between them the link language was only broken English.
One day Ganga Ram, the owner saw Ganga Ram tired. He asked:
“Ganga Ram, you water? (Do you want water?)”
“Yes, I water. (Yes, I want water).
The owner was very friendly to his workers. He was happy with Ganga Ram, as he felt that he got someone to talk in English and thus improve his knowledge in English, particularly in spoken English.
On another occasion, when Ganga Ram was standing in front of owner hesitatingly, and itching his head, the owner asked:
“Ganga Ram, you money? (Do you want money?)”
“Yes, I money. (Yes, I want money)”
“You money where money? (What did you do the salary money that I gave you the other day?”)
“I money mother money. (That money I sent to home).”
“So, you money. (So, you want money).”
“OK, I pay money” (OK, I will give you some money)
“Well, you bus go, I motorcycle come.” (You go by bus, I will come by motorcycle.”
It was their conversation. They only knew what they really meant. Their usage of grammar was like that.
One day, a guy in full suit visited the factory in which Ganga Ram was working. He was accompanying the Chairman of another company in which the guy was the Chairman’s secretary. The delegation was inspecting each plant and machinery and was discussing seriously. The guy was actively involving in the negotiation and was the centre of attraction.
At a glance, Ganga Ram recognized the guy. It was from him, Ganga Ram collected the typed papers to show his mother. Seeing the guy, with shy and guilty-conscious Ganga Ram ran away from the factory!
What a Tale is told in this delightful story of Didge the wayward little Roo.
Catch up with him as he turns the Billabong from a Dull everyday water hole, to a lively, fun place, through many adventures and conquests.
