Teach English to everyone

Today I had to go to a hospital to registration my father's name for consultation with ENT Doctor. The registration starts at 08.00 AM. To avoid long lines I had to reach there at 07.45 AM. Considering my normal waking up time of 08.00 AM, it was a very tough job for me. I had to get up at 07.00 AM, which is coldest time of the day. Anyhow we all have to do anything required especially for our parents. Battling with the cold I could manage to reach there by 07.50 AM. There were already 5-6 people there. In front of me was an 68 years old man ( I could see from his card). He was elder than my father, but was very thin and I can say was not financially very sound. The lady at the registration counter started her job at exactly 08.00 AM (This is very appreciable considering govt facility).

When the old man's turn came, the lady had a look at his card, and looked at old man with disappointment and said. "Uncle ji, maine kitni baar kaha hai, ki din dekh kar aaya karo, aaj aapke doctor wala din nahi hai, card par bhi likha hai" (Sir, how many times I have said, that you must come after checking the days on your card, Today is not your doctor's OPD day). Turned out he had to come only on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays as mentioned on his OPD Card, and today was Wednesday. The old man was certainly very disappointed, just like me he also had to get up early and come here all the way battling the fierce chill and all was waste. I felt bad for him. Then he requested lady at registration counter to write the days in Hindi.

The above instance shows how important it is to learn English. No offense to our mother tongues and national  language Hindi. We must respect them. However still every Indian must have some working knowledge of English. It is not easy to convert all the systems in Hindi, even if we are able to do so at many places, it will keep us alienated from the complete world if we do not learn English. I think, with a little effort, one can learn some English like weekdays, Time, Amounts, so our people do not have any such problems.

Based on above I am addition another resolution to my new year resolutions - To teach one such person (like that old man) enough English which can save him from such unnecessary hardship.