How oft am I asked this question?
"Where are you from? I don't think you are a South Indian. Are you a North Indian? Your Hindi is quite good!"
I'm then quite perplexed to answer. I then go on to explain who am I?
I guess there are a few of them who still do not know who am I. So here it goes for those who did not know me.
Well, I'm a Mangalorean Konkani with my ancestors hailing from Mangalore and nearby places (like Udupi, Kundapur, Cholpadi etc) commonly called as South Kanara. So I speak Konkani at home. (My mother tongue, Konkani, is atrocious at times. Only me mum can understand me at times, not always!) My family name is PAI. So ideally I should be named as Vinay Pai and not Vinay Gokula. I think even Vinay Gokula Pai sounds quite good. I was named Vinay Gokula by my father, Gokula B V. My mum wanted me to be named Vinay Pai, but dad had his way.
My paternal Grandfather (Dr. K Venkatesh Rao) came to Bangalore in late 1930s(?) to pursue his medicine in the reputed Bangalore Medical College (BMC). After graduating, he married my paternal granny (Krishna Bai, fondly called as Kittamma by many of them) and settled down in Bangalore. In early 1950s, my dad was born (third in line) here.
That's one side of my ancestors. Moving to my other side, yep my maternal side. My maternal Grandfather (C Vittal Kamath), moved to Jamshedpur in late 1940's (?) after graduating from Coimabtore where he pursued his Electrical engineering. He worked with TISCO, in Jamshedpur, all his life. After marriage, my maternal granny (Ganga) moved to Jamshedpur, from Udupi. My mother and my uncle, though born in Udupi (60 km from Mangalore), were educated in Jamshedpur. So, this place, is my mother's maika (hindi word for parents place).
After marriage, my parents settled down in Bangalore. I was born on May 16th, 1982, in Jamshedpur. This place is located in North Eastern part of India. So this makes me a North Indian by birth!!! After birth, I moved to Bangalore and was raised, educated and is working in Bangalore.
As I lived in Bangalore all my life (well, almost!), I know the local language, Kannada. Some say, then you must be a Kannadiga. Though, I do admit, my Kannada is also bad. So bad, that I rarely speak in front of my friends, in fear that they ridicule my Kannada speaking inabilities.
Every year, during my school days, all my summer holidays were spent in Jampot (or Jamshedpur), with my dearest Ajju and Mamama. Being in the North-Eastern belt, as Hindi is spoken widely, this is where I perhaps picked up Hindi (with a Bihari accent, perhaps). Hindi, was my second language, in both school (10 years) and college (2 years). Sometimes, I speak in Hindi with my mother.
My mother, as she was raised and educated in Jamshedpur, she speak mostly in Hindi with her brother. Her Konkani speaking was fluent only after her marriage as she had to speak to most of the relatives were Konkani speaking. So like her, my Konkani is atrocious, worse than hers!!!
When I speak to my mum or dad, I start off with Konkani and end the sentence in either English (with dad) or Hindi (with mom). It’s the same case with Kannada, though it ends in English. Its always been the case from childhood. My Kannada or Konkani, has a lot of either English or Hindi words mixed in it. So sometimes, when I speak to some of my friends, it’s a mix of languages. Thankfully, when I speak English, its quite ‘pure’.
That's with the Indian languages (Konkani, Hindi, Kannada and English!). Since childhood, I always wanted to learn German and finally found my way and I now I can speak some German, although its not very good as I have none to converse with! Need to focus once again and learn the language once and complete 3 levels of it. Wanted to try either French or Spanish, but I need to speak German well first rather than mumble something.
So at the end who am I? Some say I’m a Mangalorean for my ancestors were from hereabouts. Some other say, I’m a Bihari, for I was born in Jamshedpur (It was in Bihar then). Other say I’m a Bangalorean for I’ve lived here all my life. So sometimes, I’m puzzled. I do ask myself this question, often. How do I explain it in much simpler ways? Then I found the answer. It doesn’t matter whether I’m a Mangalorean or Bangalorean or a Kannadiga or a Bihari (or a Jharkhandi). I’m an Indian above all and is proud to be one. JAI HIND!!!
So now, WHO AM I? :)
Vinay
23-Apr-2011
Time : 1351 IST
"Where are you from? I don't think you are a South Indian. Are you a North Indian? Your Hindi is quite good!"
I'm then quite perplexed to answer. I then go on to explain who am I?
I guess there are a few of them who still do not know who am I. So here it goes for those who did not know me.
Well, I'm a Mangalorean Konkani with my ancestors hailing from Mangalore and nearby places (like Udupi, Kundapur, Cholpadi etc) commonly called as South Kanara. So I speak Konkani at home. (My mother tongue, Konkani, is atrocious at times. Only me mum can understand me at times, not always!) My family name is PAI. So ideally I should be named as Vinay Pai and not Vinay Gokula. I think even Vinay Gokula Pai sounds quite good. I was named Vinay Gokula by my father, Gokula B V. My mum wanted me to be named Vinay Pai, but dad had his way.
My paternal Grandfather (Dr. K Venkatesh Rao) came to Bangalore in late 1930s(?) to pursue his medicine in the reputed Bangalore Medical College (BMC). After graduating, he married my paternal granny (Krishna Bai, fondly called as Kittamma by many of them) and settled down in Bangalore. In early 1950s, my dad was born (third in line) here.
That's one side of my ancestors. Moving to my other side, yep my maternal side. My maternal Grandfather (C Vittal Kamath), moved to Jamshedpur in late 1940's (?) after graduating from Coimabtore where he pursued his Electrical engineering. He worked with TISCO, in Jamshedpur, all his life. After marriage, my maternal granny (Ganga) moved to Jamshedpur, from Udupi. My mother and my uncle, though born in Udupi (60 km from Mangalore), were educated in Jamshedpur. So, this place, is my mother's maika (hindi word for parents place).
After marriage, my parents settled down in Bangalore. I was born on May 16th, 1982, in Jamshedpur. This place is located in North Eastern part of India. So this makes me a North Indian by birth!!! After birth, I moved to Bangalore and was raised, educated and is working in Bangalore.
As I lived in Bangalore all my life (well, almost!), I know the local language, Kannada. Some say, then you must be a Kannadiga. Though, I do admit, my Kannada is also bad. So bad, that I rarely speak in front of my friends, in fear that they ridicule my Kannada speaking inabilities.
Every year, during my school days, all my summer holidays were spent in Jampot (or Jamshedpur), with my dearest Ajju and Mamama. Being in the North-Eastern belt, as Hindi is spoken widely, this is where I perhaps picked up Hindi (with a Bihari accent, perhaps). Hindi, was my second language, in both school (10 years) and college (2 years). Sometimes, I speak in Hindi with my mother.
My mother, as she was raised and educated in Jamshedpur, she speak mostly in Hindi with her brother. Her Konkani speaking was fluent only after her marriage as she had to speak to most of the relatives were Konkani speaking. So like her, my Konkani is atrocious, worse than hers!!!
When I speak to my mum or dad, I start off with Konkani and end the sentence in either English (with dad) or Hindi (with mom). It’s the same case with Kannada, though it ends in English. Its always been the case from childhood. My Kannada or Konkani, has a lot of either English or Hindi words mixed in it. So sometimes, when I speak to some of my friends, it’s a mix of languages. Thankfully, when I speak English, its quite ‘pure’.
That's with the Indian languages (Konkani, Hindi, Kannada and English!). Since childhood, I always wanted to learn German and finally found my way and I now I can speak some German, although its not very good as I have none to converse with! Need to focus once again and learn the language once and complete 3 levels of it. Wanted to try either French or Spanish, but I need to speak German well first rather than mumble something.
So at the end who am I? Some say I’m a Mangalorean for my ancestors were from hereabouts. Some other say, I’m a Bihari, for I was born in Jamshedpur (It was in Bihar then). Other say I’m a Bangalorean for I’ve lived here all my life. So sometimes, I’m puzzled. I do ask myself this question, often. How do I explain it in much simpler ways? Then I found the answer. It doesn’t matter whether I’m a Mangalorean or Bangalorean or a Kannadiga or a Bihari (or a Jharkhandi). I’m an Indian above all and is proud to be one. JAI HIND!!!
So now, WHO AM I? :)
Vinay
23-Apr-2011
Time : 1351 IST
