Our most prevalent mode of communication in today’s times is English. It has its benefits because in our globalized world, bringing us together and creating economic opportunities amongst others. However, the faultline which emerges as a result of this is superficial knowledge of our native languages, which offer a depth of expression unparalleled to English. Let’s try to understand the word ‘Student’ and its etymology in different languages. It comes from the Latin word ‘studēre’, which means to be eager, diligent and to study. In Hindi, the word for student is विद्यार्थी (Vidyaarthi) is constructed from two roots: विद्, (vid) to know (reflecting the same Indo-European root as found in the English words wit,wise and wisdom) and अर्थ् (arth), to wish, desire, seek. These are the essential building blocks of the word विद्यार्थी. In order to construct the word in question we first have to make two nouns from these roots. From विद् we make a feminine noun विद्या (vidyā), science, learning, scholarship. From अर्थ् we make अर्थ (artha), that which is desired or sought, hence aim, intention or goal. In Japanese, the word for student is composed of two Kanji characters “学” (pronounced as “gaku”) and “生” (pronounced as “sei”): Gakusei. The first character is used to denote learning, and the second has several connotations to it including life, birth, glory and being genuine. “Gakusei”, then, could be thought of as a word that means a lifetime of learning. It could also indicate how learning births our truer, more genuine selves. In Urdu, the word for student is تلب علم (taalib-e-‘ilm), which means a seeker of knowledge. “Taalib” means a seeker or an enquirer, and embodies the nuances of desiring or demanding something. “Ilm” means knowledge, understanding or being learned. “Ilm” has its origins in Arabic, and can also be found in a dua “Rabbe Zidni Ilma” which translates to “Lord, increase me in knowledge.” To conclude, let’s take a look at the lyrics of the final stanza of Coke Studio India’s brilliant Punjabi song called ‘Ki Banu Duniya Da’ by Gurdas Maan and Diljit Dosanjh. “Hello Hello thank you karan nadiyan Aa gaiyan valeton angrez vadiyan I don’t like the Punjabi Hindi nu Sharam ni aundi sanu gallan dindi nu Har boli sikho sikhni vi chahidi Par pakki vekh ke kacchi nai dhai di” English translation: “Today ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ are more prevalent than ‘Namaste’ and ‘Shukriya’ We seem to be losing our own identity We take no pride in our own languages We feel no shame in disrespecting and condescending ourselves It is important to learn other languages, but without forgetting our own Let’s not lose what we have, looking at what others have, because no good has ever come from it.”
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