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Frontlist Media celebrates “International Mother Language Day” to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as multilingualism

Author Neil Daswai has shared the offering to Nana Phadnavis on the occasion of “International Mother Language Day”
on Feb 21, 2023

Here’s the Poem:

Nana Phadnavis* Meets The Polyglot

Can you guess my mother tongue

said he, confident, cocky, and young

this polyglot who was holding forth

as he took on the Peshwa’s court

languages, for sure, he had aplenty

claiming he was fluent in twenty

high-flown Bengali, he spoke with skill

was a master of Punjabi and Tamil

the courtiers looked to Phadnavis

the Nana seemed quite ill at ease

as the braggart continued to deceive

wily Nana did have an ace up his sleeve

over dinner, the linguist began to boast

“ Do what you will; you can try your utmost!”

“But, you will never guess my mother tongue.”

the night went on; hapless hands were wrung

well fed and gloating, the polyglot went to bed

dreaming of his victory, he soon began to snore

over the boaster’s body and his bloated head

a bucket of icy water did the good Nana pour

“Su Che” yelled he, who with Phadnavis had sparred

Nana said, “So, Gujarati is your mother tongue!”

the language you default to when caught off guard

silenced by the crafty Nana, the polyglot bit his tongue

Neil Daswani

February, 21st 2023

Footnotes:

The poem is my interpretation of a popular encounter that is said to have occurred in the court of the Peshwa … the Maratha ruler of the day. It has been well chronicled

Nana Fadnavis, (February 12, 1742 – March 13, 1800), born Balaji Janardan Bhanu, was an influential minister and statesman of the Maratha Empire during the Peshwa administration in Pune, India.

Nana Phadnis was not mainly known for his prowess on the battlefield, but he more than made up for it through his shrewd politics, strategic diplomacy, wit, and intellect.

Su Che is Gujarati for “What Is This !“