Farsi Education a Foreign Language

by Aarcee

March 24, 2006

As soon as you read the title of this article, your brain analyzed the idea and even as you are reading these words you are set either for or opposed to the idea.

Many a times, when we are presented with an idea, our brain does a quick-calc and arrives at a position. In doing the quick-calc, the brain uses all the relevant preconceived notions and biases that already exist in our mind.

If you find yourself staunchly opposed to the idea of including Farsi as a foreign language course in our schools, it could probably be because subconsciously you see it as the language of the invaders who crossed the Hindukush mountains and brought misery to India in the years leading up to the British rule.

Here are some facts to consider:

Fact 1. Farsi has existed since the dim early periods of history. In fact, Farsi and Sanskrit are the children of the same mother language (Proto Indo-European Language) that were born on either side of the Hindukush.

Fact 2. Farsi is closer to Sanskrit and many other North Indian dialects than even Hindi is! The grammar, syntax and vocabulary of Farsi are very similar to our Hindustani tongue and neither we, nor the Persians, realize that this commonality exists.

Fact 3. Farsi is spoken in many countries of Central Asia. Its purest 'dari' version is the official language of Afghanistan.

Fact 4. Turkish (a cousin of Farsi) is written in Roman script like English. Farsi too can be adopted to the Devnagri script if a semitic script system (Arabic) is considered to be a hindrance in its acceptance.

Fact 5. Islam came from the Arabs and Hinduism came from the original Arya people getting heavily influenced by local tribal legends of the Indian subcontinent. Farsi existed before either of the two religions existed. It is a common heritage of Hindus and Muslims. It is a point of convergence. It reminds us that we are one people. Along with Sanskrit, Farsi is the sangam where both Hindus and Muslims can wash off their differences and celebrate the cultural oneness. Religion needs to be downplayed and culture needs to be emphasized. Some local influences aside, the North Indian Hindus and Muslims are culturally and ethnically the same stock as the Afghans, Persians and other people of central Asia.

Religion and politics has put barriers between our people to such an extent that we have forgotten that the folks two rows of fences away from us, talk like us, celebrate like us, sing like us and are our cousins who got coralled of when these fences got built.

Thanks to Jinnah, you don't see the Kabuliwalla on the streets of India anymore. Our generation does not know that these lovable simple and fiercely loyal people used to travel the length and breadth of India carrying wares from afar and having trouble with the genderized grammar of Hindi - before Mr. Jinnah asked for a fence to keep his flock from mixing with the Indians.

Just as we wrap up Holi on the East side of Pakistan and Noruz on its West side, it is time to realize that we are all one people celebrating the arrival of spring as we have done for centuries before we became Hindus or Muslims. On the last full moon night, bonfires were lit up in India for Holika dahan. Bonfires were lit up on the same day in Persia (Iran) to celebrate Chahar-shamba-suri (the suri festival). Both told legends of a untruthful lady being burnt in the fire. Both legends - remarably similar! In India we consider fish to be something auspicious to see on the day of our New Year (Holi). Last Monday, thousands of people in Iran bought life colourful fish as a auspicious token as well!

We should celebrate our culture. It is what joins us as one people. Unlike Jinnah, we should not harp on religion too much - for that's what divides us. If there is one lot that holds the short end of the stick by building a fence, it is the Jinnahites - who, despite grabbing the most fertile Indus basin, still live as a pale miserable nation, ailed by the fundamentalism that created them.

Return to previous Page