Beware of Hindicidal tongue-twisters

Hindi isn't here to fight any other language. Home minister ekdum sahi boley. It's not the jealous cousin at the wedding side-eyeing Tamil's literary jewels, or Bengali's poetic kajol. No, Hindi is a friend to all other languages, especially Indian ones, English included. But the real question is: is Hindi safe from other languages? While Bengalis are notorious for murdering the language - the likes of Satyajit Ray even revelling in Hindicide when making one of his favourite characters, Lal Mohan Ganguly, say, 'Tang mat karo, kaafi ho gaya, zyada ho gaya!' - other assassins also lurk in the shadows. Bollywood, once Hindi's loyal suitor, now courts Hinglish like a confused Bha-Tinder date. And let's not get started on Gen Z, who think 'shabd' is a skincare brand, and 'pasand' is a variety of French cheese.

Hindi is happy to sidle up to all other languages in such an affable 'Kaise hain?' way. So, our worry is not Hindi pouncing on any other language. Our concern is whether we do nothing about a charming language like Hindi - Hindustani in Devnagari giving it such fine genetic prowess and fluidity - to be mauled through gaali by the enthusiastic but 'incompetent 'aryanvi, or stabbed by the mispronouncing Malayali. So, spare a thought for the verbal manslaughter Hindi has to bear. Let it be spoken only by people who can speak it properly.