This is brilliant, Sanket! The preschool environment is so influential that I have seen my nephews and nieces struggle to switch back to their home languages when they return. After that experience in one's formative years, it takes a lifelong journey to unlearn and heal from it.
Having grown up with multiple languages, I never knew which to claim as my "mother tongue". I believe I was covered with the warmth of Cantonese in my early mumbling years, and so this is the language I use to wrap my children in. But they wriggled free, they did not want it, and my heart breaks a little, but who am I to complain, here writing in English, finding it the best language to express myself? It is indeed complex. Thank you for this essay :)
Sanket, shame and language - what a simple yet profound connection.. So many languages, but one shame. Your writing makes me want to live and to pay attention to my feelings and to write. Isn't that everything?
This essay is complex and beautiful. It really resonated with me because I feel like an “imposter Malayalee” as my relationship with that language was sacrificed at the altar of English. I love English, but I wish I could read Malayalam better and write letters in it.
My mind came up with its own title for this essay- Dil. Dimaag. Zubaan. Aur Sanket!🌈 How easily you have described deeply turbulent thoughts.
This is brilliant, Sanket! The preschool environment is so influential that I have seen my nephews and nieces struggle to switch back to their home languages when they return. After that experience in one's formative years, it takes a lifelong journey to unlearn and heal from it.
Uff, this felt like reading about my relationship with Bengali. But a far more powerful and visceral version of it.
Having grown up with multiple languages, I never knew which to claim as my "mother tongue". I believe I was covered with the warmth of Cantonese in my early mumbling years, and so this is the language I use to wrap my children in. But they wriggled free, they did not want it, and my heart breaks a little, but who am I to complain, here writing in English, finding it the best language to express myself? It is indeed complex. Thank you for this essay :)
Sanket, shame and language - what a simple yet profound connection.. So many languages, but one shame. Your writing makes me want to live and to pay attention to my feelings and to write. Isn't that everything?
And I like that the essay is its own beast - what a neat device
I really enjoyed the metre and tempo of this essay! Well written and just a little provocative.
This essay is complex and beautiful. It really resonated with me because I feel like an “imposter Malayalee” as my relationship with that language was sacrificed at the altar of English. I love English, but I wish I could read Malayalam better and write letters in it.
Beautiful essay Sanket! I had it saved to read later and am so glad I found it today.
This is very, very good. So powerful.
brilliant. very relatable and creative. loved it.
Oh I love this one, Sanket! Cheering you on, you rebellious soul!
Sanket, you always manage to bring out visceral emotions beautifully onto the paper! Loved reading this one!
Also, a side note - it's Telugu :)
Kannada and me is like Odia and you!
This essay is superb!
Beautifully written 👌🏽
I had written something about languages and the power/responsibility of translators..
Would love your take on it :)
https://open.substack.com/pub/anupamamenon/p/from-me-to-you?r=1l8thf&utm_medium=ios