Pa Paa Pi Piii & Legal Literacy

That was her nickname. And after more than 15 years I remembered her today. A chubby kid, hair in tight two plaits, and my younger sister her tution teacher, when we were in Mumbai. She was a student of my sister for a year. I dont remember her class but know it was at the primary level. And I remember her mother too. A big woman, anxious over her child and her grasp of Hindi. Who used to ask my sister everyday if her child would ever improve.
Oh but I didnt tell her why we called her Pa Paa Pi Pii. Well thats the way she used to write every alphabet in Hindi. For every letter she used to wonder the symbol by clicking her thumb against the fingers, with the Pa standing for the little finger, chanting quitely the Pa Paa Pi Pii etc till she arrived at the right finger and the right alphabet.
Think my sister would remember her more, after all didnt Pa Paa Pi Pii driver her crazy :) with her lack of speed in reading and writing. She used to that for every letter but since on the first day she started with Pa Paa Pi Pii, to receive a gasping sound and horror struck face from my sister, this nickname stuck to her.
She was a good student with decent marks in other subjects. I dont think she suffered from any learning disability. But to be honest, I dont remember much more of her, not even the name. Yet even now I can vividly recollect the anguish on her round chubby face. And also her earnestness to learn, and the disappointment over not being able to achieve, what her mother,and tution teacher wanted.
She did improve. And perhaps she was lucky that her parents could afford private tutions for her. And perhaps luckier to find a tutor who could knew her mother tongue and help her improve.
But wonder what happened to her later. Would it have made her stronger or weaker? Perhaps she has a better command over the language, now, than me (that wont be an achievement) or perhaps she didnt pass a standard because of her poor marks in Hindi. And suffered from lack of self confidence.
Yesterday night in a blog I argued against Hindi being imposed on students to learn. And I wondered why I took it so personally. And today morning I woke up to remember Pa Paa Pi Pii. And now cant stop wondering about her.
Language a means of communication, but what did the language communicate to her. That she was stupid for not understanding it, for not remembering it properly? That it was unpatriotic of her to not pass in a Hindi exam? Learning something new is not easy for many students. But in Pa Paa Pi Pii's case, its about , how much she has to learn and at what stage?
National language is important. But in Indonesia, it was arrived at not on the basis of what the majority spoke, but on what was easy to learn. And the majority learnt it successfully.
How many words are required for basic communication? 100? How many sentences should be known for basic communication 50?
Yet why should knowing a basic communication be an imposition at the primary level. Why should a student learn 3 languages from the primary stage itself. Is every mind capable of absorbing that burden? Why cant Hindi (even if it has become a national language without any research on how easy it is to learn,) be taught as a basic communication subject, at the secondary level without the pressure of passing in it, instead of it being taught in the same level as other two languages?
Sorry Pa Paa Pi Pii. You deserve to be remembered by me in a better manner. But if you had failed at passing Hindi at school, or dont grasp it, it doesnt make you less patriotic.

Yesterday National Legal Literacy Mission was launched by the Prime Minister. This didnt receive much attention from the press."Our constitutional commitment to the rule of law becomes an empty dream when it is beyond the grasp of the common man," "All the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution would become illusory rights for those who do not understand them and are not aware of them""Democracy can effectively flourish only when people know their rights and privileges and also their duties and responsibilities," "Equality in law requires equal access to law for this noble principle to translate into reality," he said, promising his support for the mission which would be in force until 2010.
Legal Literacy is not about knowing the every Section of the law but the basics of the law and its spirit.
Learning Hindi from Primary school level or legal awareness for all..
What is more important and requires the focus of the nation, you decide...since when it comes to legal literacy, even the graduates are like Pa Paa Pi Piii

http://o3.indiatimes.com/wisedonkey 7.3.05