Keralite's Viral Reddit Post Highlights Loss of Mother Tongue in English-Medium Education
Keralite reveals being punished for speaking mother tongue in school: Viral Reddit post shares story of 30-year-old who lost his language in English-only system
The Times Of IndiaImage: The Times Of India
A 30-year-old from Kerala shares his painful experience of losing fluency in his mother tongue, Malayalam, after attending an English-medium Kendriya Vidyalaya school for 12 years. His story, shared on Reddit, raises concerns about the impact of language policies in schools on cultural identity.
- 01A Keralite's Reddit post reveals the emotional toll of being punished for speaking Malayalam in school.
- 02He attended a Kendriya Vidyalaya school where he was not taught his mother tongue.
- 03The experience led to a disconnect from Malayalam literature and culture.
- 04Social media reactions highlight systemic issues in language education policies.
- 05The post prompts discussions about parental responsibility in teaching mother tongues.
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A 30-year-old man from Kerala has gone viral on Reddit after sharing his heartbreaking experience of losing fluency in his mother tongue, Malayalam, due to the English-only policy at his Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) school. He recounted how, throughout his 12 years of schooling, he was never taught to read or write Malayalam and faced punishment for speaking it, leading to feelings of shame associated with his language. He expressed a profound sense of loss, stating that being separated from his mother tongue made him feel like a foreigner in his own land, unable to fully appreciate the rich literature of Malayalam writers. The post has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many criticizing the education system that prioritizes English and Hindi over regional languages. Some users pointed to parental responsibility in teaching children their mother tongue, emphasizing the importance of language in connecting with one's cultural identity.
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The story highlights the broader implications of language policies in schools, which may alienate students from their cultural roots and identity.
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