In the days when I served as an educator at Shanti Niketan, I found myself in a conversation with Rabindranath Tagore. I had approached him to invite him to the annual Hindi Sammelan. During our discussion, Tagore inquired about my pursuits beyond teaching.
"I engage in writing stories in Hindi, and they are published in prominent Hindi magazines. I've written extensively during my time here, earning a commendable reputation," I shared.
"But your mother tongue is not Hindi; you are a Punjabi. Have you considered writing in Punjabi?" Tagore asked.
At that moment, I perceived Tagore as narrow-minded and provincial. I failed to realize the importance of national recognition before international acclaim for an artist.
"Hindi is the national language, encompassing the entire nation. Why confine myself to a provincial language when I can write for the entire country?" I responded.
Tagore countered, "I write in Bengali, a provincial language, yet my works are read not only in Hindustan but across the globe."
"I am not a great writer like you; I am merely an insignificant one," I humbly admitted.
"It's not about greatness. A writer has a connection with their birthplace, people, and language. Warmth and a sense of belonging come from them," Tagore explained.
"You may not be aware of the conditions in my state. In Punjab, we write in Hindi or Urdu. Punjabi is considered backward, almost a sub-language, a dialect of Hindi," I argued.
"I disagree. Punjabi and Bengali literature have ancient roots. Can you dismiss a language in which great poets like Guru Nanak have written?" Tagore asked, reciting Guru Nanak's lines:
Gagan mein thaal Ravi Chand deepak bane
Tarka mandal Janka moti
Dhoop Malyachal pawan chanwar kare
Sagal banraya phulanto Jyoti
He translated, "Nature, in its own way, offers prayers. To God, the creator of the Universe, the sky is the tray, the sun and moon are the candles, the stars are pearls, the fragrance from the Malyachal Mountain is incense, the breeze sways like a fan, and the entire flora blossoms luminously."
During the struggle for Independence, the need for a national language arose. The Congress worked tirelessly to promote Hindi as the national language. Though I refrained from arguing, I respected Tagore's words of wisdom.
As I rose to leave, Gurudev expressed words that lingered in my heart for years. Eventually, I grasped their truth. He remarked, "A prostitute, even with great wealth, cannot command respect. Similarly, if you spend your entire life writing in an alien language, neither your own people nor those in whose language you write will accept you. Before winning over outsiders, win over your own people."
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