Custom vs ease
The Chatterbox item, “A Hindi-to-English app for UP ministers” (June 11), says the Hindi used for official work is so pedantic that several ministers find it difficult to comprehend press statements, etc. This brings to mind an incident that occurred decades ago.
When U N Dhebar was the Congress president, he happened to be at the Allahabad railway station on a visit to the city. He noticed a board that read “Prativad pusthak prasnalay mein milegi.” Dhebar could not understand it; local leaders who were with him also could not help. A ticket collector, who was around, was called.
