Don’t Pollute Language

BASHEER SHAH

The first day of January, 1970 was the day, I joined Radio Kashmir Srinagar. Chatting in the foyer with some one, I noticed an elderly person with spectacles on, coming towards me. With a broad smile on his face, he put his hand on my shoulder and said, I am Suhail Azeem Abadi and your colleague from now on! “I am quite acquainted with this name Sir! Being an ordinary student of literature, that I shall always be, I know you are one of our cherished short story writers”, Suhail Sahib was pleased to know. He took me to his room and ordered for coffee. “By the way, who heads the Urdu Department of Kashmir University?” Suhail Sahib wanted to know. “Prof. Abdul Qadir Sarvari, who besides lot of research work to his credit, has authored three voluminous books entitled “Kashmir Mein Urdu”, I answered. Suhail Sahib incidentally didn’t know this and showed his keenness to go through these books. Changing gears for a while, he said Apni Pasand Ka Koi Sher Sunaye? I came out with a couplet (poet till date not known to me), that was upper most in my mind:

“Ujar Gaya Tha Kissi Zilzale Mein Shehr-e-wafa,
Na Jane Phir Isse Ham Ne Bhi Kyon Basaya Nahi”

Suhail Sahib was simply ecstatic, but least I knew that I had been caught on the wrong foot! It is this area of broadcasting that I shall, in my today’s column, lay emphasis upon. “Radio, said Mr. Suhail is not only one great source of entertainment in Kashmir, it is easily the medium of education as well. This is particularly true of the audience, living in suburbs and far-flung areas! When you speak into the microphone, you automatically reach hundreds and thousands of people in one go! This means the Presenter is constantly being monitored and listened to, at the other end. Let me tell you, this small magical thing, called microphone, can be your best friend, if you so desire and this can turn to be your worst enemy, if you are not cautious and careful enough! What I want to tell you is that you have to be exact, accurate and precise, while delivering on microphone. Mind you, the correct language, accent, pronunciation and modulation are the pre-requisites of sound broadcasting!” It is here that Suhail Sahib broke suspense and said The Word, I mean the correct pronunciation of the word. (This has reference to the couplet cited above) is Zalzala and not Zilzala. Being part of the electronic medium, you shall have to take care of the niceties and finer points of broadcasting. That was the first lesson, I was taught in RKS by a seasoned person, known as Suhail Azeem Abadi.

I quite agree that, with changing scenario, broadcasting has undergone a sea change. Although communication is a watch word any day. I firmly believe that we can not afford to take liberties with language. Erring here and there may be acceptable to a listener but pleading ignorance is no excuse. RKS and DDK Srinagar don’t seem to be serious enough to take care of this area of broadcasting. DDK, Srinagar although it has improved in certain areas of delivering, the news unit is found wanting, time and again! Take for instance this line by a newsreader, Yum-e-nao Roza ke Din! (Yuam, Roze & Din all meaning the same)
Besides that, Newsreaders are rarely in correct frame of mind. Now the common sense is that the dress you are wearing on the day, should not only give you a very tidy look, you have got to be convincing enough on microphone. The news producer on job can pass this advice to his newsreaders, whenever needed.
A good number of announcers and presenters employed on causal basis in RKS are by and large doing well. But when it comes to language and pronunciation, some of them cut a sorry figure. A couple of causal announcers, in CBS, Srinagar, are pleasing to your ear. Their easy and effortless way of presenting speaks a lot for them, but for the language!
Consider these sentences and see how the language is butchered.
Bahar Aya Hai.
Mein Ne Aap Sai Sharat Lagaya Thha.
Ye-phone call Aye Hain! (there is a difference between Hai and Hain)

It is OK to be informal and easy while delivering, but you cannot afford to be casual and complacent while communicating on microphone. You have to keep in mind that language is the basic tool. Again a couple of announcers at RKS always start with “Hamari Awaz Aap Tak Radio Kashmir Srinagar Se Pohanch Rahi Hai”. Embodiment of their egos, these announcers should know that institutions by and large are bigger than the individuals. Announcements, usually patent enough, if changed and recast from time to time shall sound more pleasing to the ear.

RKS has been, in fact for a long time now, carrying on air, the Roze Gar bulletins every day without fail. This would have done a lot of good to the unemployed youth over the years. The language of the bulletins naturally, has to be correct and to the point. Now this has something to do with translation. Academic qualification is translated, as “Taleemi Qabiliyat”; Applicant is Umeedwar and so on. This can be looked into, to make Rozegar bulletins compact and comprehensive.

Sometime back, during my stay in Delhi, Awards for Art, literature, civil service, education, trade and industry, also science and technology, were declared and it was nice to know that Ameen Kamil and Shamim Azad were the recipients of Padmasshree, for their contribution to literature and Art. Kamil, if on one hand is our genuine poet and critic, Shamim without any doubt, is a house hold name in Kashmir. That reminds me of the bygone days when “Zoon Dab” team of RKS, bagged this award. Those who got it individually were Pushkar Bhan, Somnath Sadhoo and Maryam Begum. I was the first one to break this news to Maryam Ji. Excited enough, I tried to make her understand the importance and significance of the award and how much the award could lift a person on social pedestal. Looking at her I found her face devoid of any expression. She very innocently said, “I never knew that I had been putting in some good work all these years”.
Amitabh Bacchan, did his best to promote Pulse Polio Campaign. He made each one of us understand the significance of the campaign. Ironically enough, Amitabh till date is yet to know whether it is Do Boond Zindagi ‘K’ or Do Boond Zindagi ‘Ki’.

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