Where ever you go in this word, you will find a Malayali
When I have landed in Bangalore in 2002, where ever I looked, I could see a Dog or a Malayali. Dogs were afraid of stones throwing at them and Malayali's were fighter, they dont afriad of any thing, but English. Who ever throw English at them. They were afriad and run away.
Good Evening Toastmasters and Guests, I have landed in Bangalore with fear of English and with dream of MBA. Completion of MBA with half the bunch Malayali students in class, we made other state students to speak all bad words in Malayalam. Post MBA, I had option to come back to Kerala. When looked myself, I have earned MBA but fear of English stayed there.
I have started my career in Bangalore to build my English more than anything else. It was tough, we had trainers and managers from different countries. There was no way to speak Malayalam but my manager was a Malayali. With his help, I have started my career. In training, I have found a seat in a back corner of the room and somehow managed my work. First one year, I have learned and worked really well. When the productivity report published, I have scored first. I didnt get it, I always looked down on me, Because I didnt have a good English. When the promotion list published, my name was not there. I didnt have any surprise. But my team members said, it is your English, you are not getting promotions. Till that time, I was happy because my work got recognized. now they are saying, I could have get promotion, if I had good English. That time I understood my Economics professors quote, Human needs are unlimited.
That day, I left office with a heavy heart. I have to cross the road to catch my cab to home. I was crossing the road with my collegue, Geetha. We had one guy, who worked in our mail room, Michael. He was in his cycle, to cross road. Michael was young, wore a decent dress but looks like a lower grade worker. There was a police man controlling the traffic. Unnecessarily, policeman tried to bully Michael. Asked him to stop and asked unnecessary questions, finally policeman tried to punchure cycle tyre. Geetha and I were watching at this. Geetha said me to talked to police and help Michael. I pulled Geetha and left from there.
Next day, I have asked Michael, what happened. Michael had to walk home all the way from there. I felt ashamed, Geetha had the courage to speak for Michael, But I did not do anything. Why didn't I help. Because I was scared of speaking. I was scared of standing up whereever needed English. That day just passed like any other day. But from then, I have decided that, English should not be a reason for me to take a back step. I have not improved my English, but my attitude towards any situation as changed. I have started sitting in front of front row of the meetings without worrying any questions, Raise my questions for my team members. In any meeting, if I dont understand or I was not convinced, stopped nodding my head. Instead shared my points in a slow pace, had discussion without being afraid of English. I have hired people without good English and with good skills. Trained them and they are shinning stars in my company now.
Its more than 15 years passed after Michael incident happened.
For me, Now English is just a language, It should have a beauty of words, pronoucion, ascent and everything. But if your English doesnt have that beauty, that should not be the reason for your Contribution to the world around you.
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