Although many children of Indian descent in the US are learning to read and write Kannada, they often prefer to converse in English with everyone, including their parents. Despite efforts to speak in their mother tongue at home, parents struggle to encourage their children to respond in Kannada. Interestingly, the children understand Kannada but tend to reply in English, resisting their parents' attempts to promote their native language.
The attached audio is of my grandson, Adhokshaja, a 6th-grade student in the Allen Independent School District.
He's excited to participate in a Kannada drama performance at the upcoming gathering of the Kannada Brahmana Sabha in Dallas, Texas.
To start, Adhokshaja has been assigned four lines to rehearse. I'd love for you to take a listen!
Nostalgia takes me back to my school days in the 1970s, when amateur drama associations would stage plays about Kannada freedom fighters. Interestingly, these productions often featured a character portraying a British colonial officer, adding a touch of authenticity to the narrative.
Those dramas provided us with endless entertainment, especially when the actor playing the British character would speak in a mock accent. Ironically, I've noticed that the American Desi kids of today speak with a similar intonation and accent, a fascinating blend of cultures.
Although their dialogue delivery may seem a bit rough around the edges, we take comfort in the fact that these children are at least making an effort to speak our mother tongue. It's heartwarming to see them connect with their roots, even if their pronunciation and delivery aren't perfect.
We often emphasize the importance of parents passing down customs and traditions to the younger generation. However, in today's world, many parents themselves are swept up in the influence of Western culture, making it challenging for them to transmit their own heritage to their children.
Ironically, it's often only when parents grow older that they realise the importance of passing down their cultural heritage.
I firmly believe that this realisation should come sooner rather than later. If not, there's a risk that future generations may lose touch with their roots, potentially leading to a loss of faith or cultural identity, and perhaps even assimilation into the dominant culture or religion of their adopted country.
Have a nice day. 21/2/2025
Enjoy listening.👇👇
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