Abhijit Naskar's Blog - Posts Tagged "languages-and-culture"
On Language, Culture and Oneness | The Gentalist & The Sufi Sermon
I wiped out my cultural identity, I wiped out my religious identity, I wiped out my national identity as well as my gender identity. In short, I wiped myself out from my psyche, only then I found a place in each and every heart of this world, only then I became the voice of each and every person on earth.
Some call mom, some amma and some annem,
some call dad, some nana and some babam.
Some call sis, some akka and some ablam,
some call honey, some bangaram and some aşkim.
Words may differ but emotions are the same,
for language builds barriers only if you let it.
See past the words and look into the soul,
find you will an ocean full with jewels humanely lit.
There are those who eagerly learn another language to be one with another culture, then there are those morons who insist on the exclusive glorification of their so-called native language. The world is beautified by the former, whereas the latter only sustain disharmony – the latter only act as a prehistoric impediment to the unification of humankind.
In front of oneness language, faith, culture, all these are mere expendable trivialities.
In becoming one with people, even if you lose your language, along with every last trace of your so-called cultural background, that’s not a loss, but an actual fulfillment of life.
Some call mom, some amma and some annem,
some call dad, some nana and some babam.
Some call sis, some akka and some ablam,
some call honey, some bangaram and some aşkim.
Words may differ but emotions are the same,
for language builds barriers only if you let it.
See past the words and look into the soul,
find you will an ocean full with jewels humanely lit.
There are those who eagerly learn another language to be one with another culture, then there are those morons who insist on the exclusive glorification of their so-called native language. The world is beautified by the former, whereas the latter only sustain disharmony – the latter only act as a prehistoric impediment to the unification of humankind.
In front of oneness language, faith, culture, all these are mere expendable trivialities.
In becoming one with people, even if you lose your language, along with every last trace of your so-called cultural background, that’s not a loss, but an actual fulfillment of life.
Sonnet of Languages | Amantes Assemble
Turkish is the language of love,
Spanish is the language of revolution.
Swedish is the language of resilience,
English is the language of translation.
Portuguese is the language of adventure,
German is the language of discipline.
French is the language of passion,
Italian is the language of cuisine.
With over 7000 languages in the world,
Handful of tongues fall short in a sonnet.
But you can rest assured of one thing,
Every language does something the very best.
Each language is profoundly unique in its own way.
When they come together, they light the human way.
Spanish is the language of revolution.
Swedish is the language of resilience,
English is the language of translation.
Portuguese is the language of adventure,
German is the language of discipline.
French is the language of passion,
Italian is the language of cuisine.
With over 7000 languages in the world,
Handful of tongues fall short in a sonnet.
But you can rest assured of one thing,
Every language does something the very best.
Each language is profoundly unique in its own way.
When they come together, they light the human way.
The Uncultured Poet (A Sonnet) | Amantes Assemble
There is a reason I never translate my works,
You can translate information but not sentiment.
So I carve humanity with not one but many tongues,
Yet due to alphabetical wall, much remain unspoken.
Human and culture must grow together in harmony,
All traditions of stagnation must be thrown away.
If a human can come forward across conditioning,
Why can’t a culture do the same and meet halfway!
I sacrificed my language so I could feel you better,
Now I can’t read the tongue of Tagore I was raised in.
Such an uncultured poet whose culture is the world,
Asks the cultures with borders just one little thing.
Take some lessons from Mustafa Kemal in modernizing.
A culture is enhanced, not diminished, by latinizing.
You can translate information but not sentiment.
So I carve humanity with not one but many tongues,
Yet due to alphabetical wall, much remain unspoken.
Human and culture must grow together in harmony,
All traditions of stagnation must be thrown away.
If a human can come forward across conditioning,
Why can’t a culture do the same and meet halfway!
I sacrificed my language so I could feel you better,
Now I can’t read the tongue of Tagore I was raised in.
Such an uncultured poet whose culture is the world,
Asks the cultures with borders just one little thing.
Take some lessons from Mustafa Kemal in modernizing.
A culture is enhanced, not diminished, by latinizing.
Hometown Human Sonnet (Polyglots have more fun) | Vande Vasudhaivam
Everybody loves Rumi,
I learnt his tongue,
So I could pick up where he left off.
Better than basking in borrowed light,
Is to be an original light to the world.
Everybody yells, viva la libertad,
I learnt el idioma, so I could
humanize the paradigm of revolution.
Everybody loves Indus valley diversity,
Annitiki munde anni shaashtralu nerchkunnanu,
So I’m never out of spice for my humanitarianism.
Everybody loves boasting about their culture,
I spent years making all the cultures my own.
Thus my strength was amplified a thousand folds,
My sight expanded beyond all norms of vision known.
Polyglots have more fun – there is no question.
When science, poetry and polyglottery come together,
That’s the beginning of a paradigm bending revolution.
I learnt his tongue,
So I could pick up where he left off.
Better than basking in borrowed light,
Is to be an original light to the world.
Everybody yells, viva la libertad,
I learnt el idioma, so I could
humanize the paradigm of revolution.
Everybody loves Indus valley diversity,
Annitiki munde anni shaashtralu nerchkunnanu,
So I’m never out of spice for my humanitarianism.
Everybody loves boasting about their culture,
I spent years making all the cultures my own.
Thus my strength was amplified a thousand folds,
My sight expanded beyond all norms of vision known.
Polyglots have more fun – there is no question.
When science, poetry and polyglottery come together,
That’s the beginning of a paradigm bending revolution.
First Language (The Sonnet) | Visvavictor
English is my second language,
My first language is love.
Neuroscience is my second sense,
My first sense is love.
Theology is my second faith,
My first faith is interfaith.
Philosophy is my second nature,
My first nature is to assimilate.
Analog is my second passion,
My first passion is dialogue.
Law is my second task, my first,
Is taking beings out of the bog.
All labels are second labels,
Our native label is human.
All tradition is second tradition,
Earth’s native tradition is compassion.
My first language is love.
Neuroscience is my second sense,
My first sense is love.
Theology is my second faith,
My first faith is interfaith.
Philosophy is my second nature,
My first nature is to assimilate.
Analog is my second passion,
My first passion is dialogue.
Law is my second task, my first,
Is taking beings out of the bog.
All labels are second labels,
Our native label is human.
All tradition is second tradition,
Earth’s native tradition is compassion.
Towards A Multicultural World | Abhijit Naskar | Insan Himalayanoğlu
When I wanna pen something extremely personal, without actually revealing anything, I just write it in spanish or turkish. If you wanna study the mountain, study the mainstream work – but if you wanna learn about the person, study the turkish and spanish portion of my work.
That’s why most of the titles of my works are in turkish or spanish – because I can’t write a single word unless I feel the title boiling in my blood – and although English is unofficially the first language of earth, because of its savage imperialist history, it is neither the profoundest nor the most beautiful language on earth.
Does that mean, we should wipe out english from the world altogether? Of course not – that would be yet another boneheaded exercise in bigotry and intolerance. Instead, what’s really needed is a genuine humane intention to create a truly magnificent multilingual society – towards a multicultural world. Learn to look beyond the puny confines of one petty language, because the world is too grand to be wasted in the gutter of one language and one culture. Every culture is my culture, every country is mine – defiant descendants of divided ancestors, hand in hand we shall fly.
That’s why most of the titles of my works are in turkish or spanish – because I can’t write a single word unless I feel the title boiling in my blood – and although English is unofficially the first language of earth, because of its savage imperialist history, it is neither the profoundest nor the most beautiful language on earth.
Does that mean, we should wipe out english from the world altogether? Of course not – that would be yet another boneheaded exercise in bigotry and intolerance. Instead, what’s really needed is a genuine humane intention to create a truly magnificent multilingual society – towards a multicultural world. Learn to look beyond the puny confines of one petty language, because the world is too grand to be wasted in the gutter of one language and one culture. Every culture is my culture, every country is mine – defiant descendants of divided ancestors, hand in hand we shall fly.
Art of Linguistics (Sonnet 1223) | Abhijit Naskar | Insan Himalayanoğlu
No language speaks of freedom better than spanish,
No language speaks of love better than turkish,
No language speaks of oneness better than sanskrit,
No language interprets better than our good ol’ english.
No language speaks to computers better than code,
No language speaks of matter better than physics.
No language speaks of mind better than neurology,
No language speaks pattern better than mathematics.
No language speaks of thought better than philosophy,
No language speaks of emotion better than poetry.
No language speaks of justice better than sociology,
No language speaks of behavior better than psychology.
Purpose of language is communication not argumentation,
If it doesn’t bridge the cliffs it all brings but extinction.
No language speaks of love better than turkish,
No language speaks of oneness better than sanskrit,
No language interprets better than our good ol’ english.
No language speaks to computers better than code,
No language speaks of matter better than physics.
No language speaks of mind better than neurology,
No language speaks pattern better than mathematics.
No language speaks of thought better than philosophy,
No language speaks of emotion better than poetry.
No language speaks of justice better than sociology,
No language speaks of behavior better than psychology.
Purpose of language is communication not argumentation,
If it doesn’t bridge the cliffs it all brings but extinction.
Favoritism is Good (The Sonnet) | Abhijit Naskar | Insan Himalayanoğlu
My favorite language in the world is Turkish,
Because its culture electrifies my scars.
My favorite language in the East is Telugu,
Because its music emboldens my nerves.
My favorite language in the West is Spanish,
Because it teaches me the worth of freedom.
Favorite ancient tongues are Arabic ‘n Sanskrit,
For one embodies peace, another assimilation.
My favorite science of all is electronics,
For it empowers my imagination untainted.
My favorite philosophy is everyday curiosity,
It helps me transcend all sectarian intellect.
My favorite religion in the world is service,
Because it transforms an animal into human.
I don’t care what you believe or don’t,
As long as your behavior speaks compassion.
Favoritism is a civilized faculty,
when practiced beyond blood and border.
Problem is when you see nothing at all,
beyond the rim of your family and culture.
Because its culture electrifies my scars.
My favorite language in the East is Telugu,
Because its music emboldens my nerves.
My favorite language in the West is Spanish,
Because it teaches me the worth of freedom.
Favorite ancient tongues are Arabic ‘n Sanskrit,
For one embodies peace, another assimilation.
My favorite science of all is electronics,
For it empowers my imagination untainted.
My favorite philosophy is everyday curiosity,
It helps me transcend all sectarian intellect.
My favorite religion in the world is service,
Because it transforms an animal into human.
I don’t care what you believe or don’t,
As long as your behavior speaks compassion.
Favoritism is a civilized faculty,
when practiced beyond blood and border.
Problem is when you see nothing at all,
beyond the rim of your family and culture.
One small step towards a language is one giant leap towards inclusion. Abhijit Naskar | Bulletproof Backbone
How come we can fit the world in our pocket, but not in our heart! Learning a language is one of the tangible endeavors to help eliminate hate from the world. One small step towards a language is one giant leap towards inclusion.
I don’t need to write in all these languages of the world – those who care, will find a way. I write in more than one language because I want to. I want to leave at least something extremely personal for every culture in the world – that is, for as many cultures as I humanly can.
However in the end, the universal spirit of love, light and oneness transcends language and culture, and finds a home in the heart of every conscientious human being – and that’s what counts. It’s the bridge that counts, not the shape it comes in.
I don’t need to write in all these languages of the world – those who care, will find a way. I write in more than one language because I want to. I want to leave at least something extremely personal for every culture in the world – that is, for as many cultures as I humanly can.
However in the end, the universal spirit of love, light and oneness transcends language and culture, and finds a home in the heart of every conscientious human being – and that’s what counts. It’s the bridge that counts, not the shape it comes in.
Native to Neighborhood Earth | Abhijit Naskar | World War Human: 100 New Earthling Sonnets
When I crossed the hundred books mark, I genuinely thought, “I’m done”. But something happened! I don’t know why, but my drive towards other languages became stronger than ever. I felt, now is the time to make parts of my legacy more accessible to other languages. I have never relied on anyone in my life for the realization of my legacy, so it was obvious that I was not gonna wait for somebody else to translate my works for me. Besides, when somebody else translates an original literature into another language, it always remains a translation – it can never become an original literature of that language and culture. This I absolutely did not want.
Sure, other than Turkish and Spanish, I have difficulty with other languages – that is, I am not at all fluent in them. But the point is, once I feel the language and culture in my veins, I can deliver my ideas in any language I want. And I’ve been doing exactly that over the years – absorbing as many cultures and languages into my bloodstream as I can that is. If you tear my heart open, you can find every single culture in the world, caringly placed and nurtured. Some call it gift, I call it intention.
I don’t have any one native culture,
for I am native to every culture.
I am a native to the whole world,
I am a native to neighborhood earth.
I can write in any language, because I want to. And no, I don’t use some fancy AI tools. In fact, I have an uncompromising principle against the use of AI in literature. Heck, I opted not to use something so trivial as an image containing yours truly with a mace, as cover image of “Bulletproof Backbone”, because it collided with the book’s anti-weaponry vision – so you can imagine my stance on fraudulent material generated by AI!
What I do use, while writing in other languages, is old-fashioned dictionary – online dictionary that is, to fix things like spelling, missing vocabulary and other broken bits – which makes me a broken polyglot. And believe you me, broken polyglots are potent polyglots. I may not be fluent in a lot of languages, but after I am long gone, each of these languages and cultures will have something distinctly personal left by me to call their own.
For example, I may not speak fluent German, yet if I write even one page in the German language, it’ll forever become an indelible part of the German culture. It’ll not be some off-key German translation of an original Naskar, rather it’ll be a German literature from the vast Naskarean oeuvre.
Sure, I know my limits in each of these languages, that’s why I keep my sentence structure simple, which I am not compelled to do in Turkish and Spanish. But more than my limits, I am aware of my limitlessness. And once the being transcends the limits of language, culture, border and tradition, puny apparatus like intellect is bound to follow.
Sure, other than Turkish and Spanish, I have difficulty with other languages – that is, I am not at all fluent in them. But the point is, once I feel the language and culture in my veins, I can deliver my ideas in any language I want. And I’ve been doing exactly that over the years – absorbing as many cultures and languages into my bloodstream as I can that is. If you tear my heart open, you can find every single culture in the world, caringly placed and nurtured. Some call it gift, I call it intention.
I don’t have any one native culture,
for I am native to every culture.
I am a native to the whole world,
I am a native to neighborhood earth.
I can write in any language, because I want to. And no, I don’t use some fancy AI tools. In fact, I have an uncompromising principle against the use of AI in literature. Heck, I opted not to use something so trivial as an image containing yours truly with a mace, as cover image of “Bulletproof Backbone”, because it collided with the book’s anti-weaponry vision – so you can imagine my stance on fraudulent material generated by AI!
What I do use, while writing in other languages, is old-fashioned dictionary – online dictionary that is, to fix things like spelling, missing vocabulary and other broken bits – which makes me a broken polyglot. And believe you me, broken polyglots are potent polyglots. I may not be fluent in a lot of languages, but after I am long gone, each of these languages and cultures will have something distinctly personal left by me to call their own.
For example, I may not speak fluent German, yet if I write even one page in the German language, it’ll forever become an indelible part of the German culture. It’ll not be some off-key German translation of an original Naskar, rather it’ll be a German literature from the vast Naskarean oeuvre.
Sure, I know my limits in each of these languages, that’s why I keep my sentence structure simple, which I am not compelled to do in Turkish and Spanish. But more than my limits, I am aware of my limitlessness. And once the being transcends the limits of language, culture, border and tradition, puny apparatus like intellect is bound to follow.
