I just become myself in Hindi

centre of his life and work.

BY PREETI JABBAL

When Ian Woolford feels stressed, he takes a walk in the bush and recites Hindi poetry.

He looks at the Hindi letter ksha and is reminded of a koala.

When prime ministers ScoMo and Modi meet and felicitate each other in their own lingo, his tongue-in-cheek comment is: Har har ScoModi, ghar ghar ScoModi.

It receives much love on Twitter, among his 51,000 followers.

Ian Woolford’s love for our matrabhasha, his near native fluency as well as his pedagogical experience has won him many fans not only in Australia but across India as well.

Today, as Hindi lecturer at La Trobe University, the language continues to be at the

His first exposure came at the early age of nine during a trip to India with his mum (it was when he picked up his favourite Hindi phrase Koi baat nahin). It led to a lifelong love, not to mention a full-fledged career which saw a PhD and a proliferation of literary works.

“It was a slow coming actually,” Ian revealed to Indian Link, recounting his journey with Hindi. “I was originally at university in America studying music. I was a singer and I thought maybe I would even be a performer. When I travelled to Bihar for a research project on Bihari folk songs, I realised I could combine these two things in my life that I love, and I think that's when I decided that I want to follow this language path.”

The Bihar sojourn introduced Ian to regional languages like Maithili, Angika and Bhojpuri and he studied the literature, folklore and oral tradition of Eastern Uttar

Pradesh and Bihar. It went on to form the basis of his 2012 doctoral dissertation.

Ian’s current book project Renu Village, Hindi Literature and North Indian Oral Traditions draws on his fieldwork there, as he learnt to sing Bihari songs with the surviving members of a troupe formed by Hindi writer Phanishwarnath Renu.

Yet it is the legendary Premchand for whom Ian has a special regard.

“Premchand’s stories were the first ones that I read in Hindi,” Ian revealed. “I have a sentimental attachment to them as I cut my Hindi literary teeth on his work and it opened up the door to so many other writers both from past and present.”

Among more contemporary writers, Ian lists Jnanpith award winner Krishna Sobti.

“I am fascinated - and stunned - by Krishna Sobti’s work, because it spans so many decades. She passed away recently. She has been a writer from a very long time yet she wrote another novel recently, giving a modern perspective on India, South Asia and on language and the way we use it to create landscapes and autobiography. She is a writer that is very much on my mind.”

As the coordinator of the Hindi Language Program at La Trobe University, one of the few universities in Australia offering Hindi language studies, Ian oversees all levels of Hindi. The three-year course incudes advanced classes in literature, cinema and media. The classes are open to undergrads, majors as well as PhD students

“La Trobe has a decade long relationship with India,” Ian described. “We have partnerships with universities in India including research collaboration. We send students there on internships. We also have a partnership with the Indian Film Festival so there is a deep and long-standing partnership with India at many levels.”

“The Hindi language program has been an important part of this,” he continued. “Students can start from complete scratch; students with no background in the language can start from the very beginning by learning the Devnagiri script. With the completion of six semesters they can also go all the way to advanced level.”

“We also have quite a few students from India who may be comfortable, even fluent in the language but are interested in further studies. Maybe they have studied in the English medium and are interested in looking at the literature, at media or maybe look at their own fields through Hindi languages.”

Students, friends and fans got to see him flying the flag for La Trobe beside a star visitor recently, Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan, on whom the university bestowed a special honour. Ian admitted to followers beforehand that he was excited to be meeting SRK.

“I got to chat with him briefly and I just said, in Hindi, congratulations on your honorary degree,” Ian recalled as he reflected on the packed out event attended by students who came in droves to catch a glimpse of their favourite Hindi film star. “I also quickly let him know about what we do and the Hindi program at the University. The students learn from watching scenes from his films so it was quite special to have him here. I think he was quite overwhelmed with the whole day; it must have been quite an experience for him to have a University honour his lifetime achievements in such a way.”

What aspect of Hindi has sustained his own personal interest over time?

“Music and poetry absolutely”, said Ian without hesitation. “I enjoy reading, teaching and thinking about poetry. I start thinking in the language better and suddenly I just become myself in Hindi, if that makes sense. It’s interesting I did not really enjoy poetry as much when I was reading it in English. However, learning how to read Hindi poetry in my early days when I struggled with it

Up Close And Personal With Ian Babu

making efforts not necessarily to promote the languages but to ensure that their platforms are more open to Indian languages because they are realising that people want to use those platforms to communicate. (This is true) not just in Hindi but in all Indian languages.”

Ian’s social media is an affirmation of his ability to engage his digital audience, particularly young students. Indeed, he might well be single-handedly promoting the language and its poetry in Australia. What is the intent behind his content, we ask him.

“I have no intent other than if I am working on a poem or idea, I let people know what I am doing, and it cheers me on,” he replied with a smile. “I have a huge amount of support and encouragement from people online, in India and around the world. It makes me feel very cheered on that people care about these things and it is important to them.”

It is with similar modesty that Ian makes light of the diverse cultural perspectives in his life, a UK-born American who lives in Australia and works in India.

“You’re right, my story does involve quite a few continents but it is not that unusual in the world especially in a place like Melbourne. It’s not that uncommon even in terms of language in a place like Melbourne as this is a huge diverse city with so many people who speak so many different languages. I like to think that is not much to reconcile, and just like everyone else, I am just living my life.” actually made me learn how to enjoy English poetry as well. That’s my main call these days and I try and share that with my students as well. I find that a lot of students would enjoy reading poetry, listening to music and thinking on those terms.”

Ian attracts quite a fan following with his video recitations of Hindi poetry on social media.

Waah re Google, #AmritaPritam he tweeted recently, as the daily doodle marked the illustrious Indian writer’s 100th birth anniversary. He followed it up, as expected, with a rendition of his favourite lines from Pritam’s works.

It was but the latest in a series of Twitter tributes to kahaanikars, upanyaaskaars and aalochaks on their janamdiwas and punyatithis. Set against that familiar backdrop of his book-lined office, these short tributes are delivered straight from the heart, packing such feeling in them that you are left not only in awe of the personality he is felicitating, but you also make a mental note that you must go back and read them all over again.

It makes you marvel also that new technologies and new media may be helping the cause of languages.

Ian, not surprisingly, is passionate about this idea. “Computers and cyberspace actually give life to languages. With Hindi, one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, a large number of people communicate using the Devnagiri script, and that is why technology companies have had to follow suit. Google, Facebook and Twitter are

About the potential of the language to aid in bilateral ties between Australia and India, Ian is careful not to exclude other languages.

“English is certainly enough to get a foot in the door in terms of trade relations or bilateral relations, but for people-to-people relationships, training in an Indian language is the way to keep the door open to have long standing and deep ties. I think it's important to stress that all of India’s global languages for example Tamil, Gujarati, Punjabi and more are equally important.”

The same attitude is evident as he talks about the upcoming Hindi Diwas, celebrations for which have taken on increased significance in Australia’s Indian community in recent years.

“Hindi Diwas is a wonderful day to remember that Hindi is one of many great languages in India. If your mother tongue is Hindi or if you are learning it as a second or third language, celebrate it because it’s a beautiful language. But I think Hindi Diwas is a very good day also to remember that all languages in India are beautiful and they have traditions tracking back to generations.”

Thank you, Ian babu, for that last thought.

Lawson Tanner: How a love for Hindi films led to a love for Hindi

When Lawson Tanner sings Galliyan teri galliyan (the Ankit Tiwari number from the film Ek Villain), you might as well believe he means it as a tribute to Hindi, and to India. Mujhko bhaavein teri galliyan…

Lawson first stumbled on to Hindi as a high school student when he googled “Bollywood” with a friend – while in science class. The search took them to a clip from the blockbuster hit Hum Saath Saath Hain. It proved to be much more interesting than the lesson that was on, and Lawson was hooked.

He saw his first full-fledged Bollywood film shortly after – Karan Johar’s Student of the Year. An Indian friend translated and explained aspects of culture. “I loved the surprise aspect and unpredictability in Bollywood. Every movie will break down into song and dance and that's regardless of the actual genre!”

Lawson’s proficiency in the language increased as he watched more and more movies and music videos.

He began doing “killer renditions” (his own words) of Bollywood hits, but it is his translations of Bollywood lyrics that will have you in splits. Guess the song from these Lawson translations: My body is so hot that it’ll light up your cigarette and Stick my photo to your heart with some superglue. Today, an assistant editor at a television production company by day and a Hindi music bathroom performer by night, Lawson’s interest in Hindi has led him to communicate in the language with fluency.

The 22-year-old has just returned from a year-long trip to India, where his favourite trick on unsuspecting locals was to catch them off-guard by saying “Mujhe Hindi aati hai, yaar”.

Of course his knowledge has Bollywood has refined as well: his current favourite is Vidya Balan as opposed to his early favourite Kangana Ranaut (thanks to Queen), and he appreciates that special

Diana Sinha: friends' Hindi helped family life

Melbourne’s Diana Theseira Sinha learnt her Hindi by simply being around native speakers.

“At uni I had many Hindi-speaking friends, and they would frequently break out in their language,” the Singapore-born told Indian Link. “I didn’t understand, and I wanted to understand.”

Through the years, she slowly began to “catch a few words”to understand what was being communicated, and even string together some words into coherent sentences.

“Initially I developed my skills mostly through conversation, picking up on key words, and then Bollywood films taught me some fancy words, which people don’t use in everyday life,” she revealed.

That initial exposure came in handy when she met and married Vishal Sinha, a native speaker whose family originates from Bihar and whose primary language is Hindi.

Struggling to find a happy medium of communication with her new family, Diana’s skills in Hindi have allowed her to communicate effectively with her in-laws.

“It has definitely strengthened my communication especially with my mother in-law,” she said.

As she continues to find herself immersed in the Indian community and effects have improved considerably.

Lawson views Hindi as a gateway to truly understanding Indian culture. “Being a Hindi speaker enables you to learn a whole lot about the culture that you just don't really get when you're looking at it through the lens of the English language. Hindi actually carries with it a whole lot of meaning that just can't be translated.”

Currently studying an online Hindi course at ANU, Lawson acknowledges that learning the grammar and literature are beneficial, but immersing oneself in the culture and asking questions is key to learning the language.

“Get out of your tourist bubbles and become explorers,” he advises western visitors to India. “I know people who have lived in India for five years, and didn't learn a word of Hindi. And I’m fine with that, but of course they really don't know anything about the deeper significance.”

Equally he is amazed at Indian-origin friends who can’t speak the language, or pretend they don’t. His advice to them as well, would probably be, travel to India! He happily concludes, “India mein Hindi seekhna lajavab hai.”

Check out Lawson Tanner on Indian Link’s YouTube channel (www.indianlink.com.au)

Raphela Jude