Yes Minister – Language leads the plot in my opinion

The old BBC sitcom Yes Minister is back on air in the history channel. I remember seeing this on TV somewhere in the 80’s. That was the time when i was going through the “we are just growing up” phase.. and you look up to a certain person as your hero – idol-and try to be like them. For me it was my aunt. I still remember her going ga-ga about this sitcom.. she and her friends used to have lengthy discussions…and the only thing i could catch was they were so much impressed about the language of the sitcom

I was rather confused…its an English TV show.. so obviously they are speaking English.. but then… what’s so special in English in this show….( this was the time i couldnt say one accent from another… and i did know that “Queen’s English” / “American English” even existed…) to me it was all plain english.

Now that the sitcom is back onAIR at the History channel – Saturday 10.30 am ( IndianStantardTime)..I started watching it out of curiosity ( all the hero(ine) worshipping thoughts.. of my aunt started reeling back as flashback)… but to tell the truth.. I am beginning to enjoy the show… before i tell about my favorite aspect of this show here are some facts

ABOUT THE PLOT:-

How the minister and his immediate team tackles every political situation that comes in their way… with diplomacy .. discretion ..saying what they would like to say.. but cannot say for the fear of loosing there reputation in the cabinet – tactfully agreeing to disagree – in short an action sequence involving words, words, and more words
For full details see here and here

NOW COMES MY FAVORITE PART OF THE SHOW

Today, I regard myself.. a little more wiser than I was in the 80’s ( when this show was first aired in India). Now, I can tell the difference between “Queen’s English” and “how the rest of the word speaks English”. Thanks to my (same) aunt… I grew up watching her getting involved in the books she read. She doesn’t stop at reading and knowing the summary of the book… but she would also encourage me to think.. as in.. what would have been going through the author’s mind when he wrote that piece”.. she would point out the nuances , introducing a thought – carrying it forward with known arguments -following it with our perceptions – and finally concluding it in a manner we feel appropriate.

Today when I think of that.. it seems like a literary exercise.. ( considered boring even by literature students)… but then.. back in those growing years.. she used to make the whole thing appear like a puzzle… and would challenge me to fulfill it. She knows only too well.. that I readily fall for the challenge-bait

She introduced me to Wordsworth – Keats – Shelly – Premchand and many more beyond my classroom and my teacher’s question and answers. Those were the same poems i had in my school curriculum.. yet.. when she would “discuss” ( note : not teach) it with me.. I could see the solitary reaper , I would feel the daffodils.. and every other composition

Oh! Dear…I am sooo moving away from the post… tch..tch… reality check

So.. with so much of insight from my aunt.. I was able to differentiate between the “Queen’s English” and “how the rest of the word speaks English”. To be honest.. my english is same as “the rest of the world”. But.. I enjoy reading and listening to conversations in “queen’s English”…I really do.. So Yes Minister came as a gourmet meal.

Iam not a politically active person.. nor am I interested in any political party. So its only natural that I am unfamiliar with the politics of politics. So in this show.. all the politics go way over my head…and still ..I love to watch it… the only reason is.. the language. I feel.. the characters don’t take shape.. if not for the language they speak in this show. IF languages could be translated / transformed into visuals… I can show you a bright display of glitters – gushing water through an empty pipe – noiseless splash of waves during a low tide – and so much more

If you are the person.. who loves to listen to a language ( content is irrelevant here) then .. I strongly recommend that you watch this show… you will not be disappointed.

Another Tv Programme that I watch purely for the sake of language is the “Aastha TV” where Sri.Ramdevji Maharaj gives discourse on Yoga in Hindi.(Ask me about yoga and its asanas… i am as dumb as a rock).. Till date I have never seen anybody having such a command over hindi (on speaking terms). I have read some really impressive hindi-texts… but to be able to speak in the same accord is a different ballgame.. (May be thats why I love watching Mirza Ghalib and Rekha’s UmraoJaan So much).I think this goes for all languages…. Try speaking for 10 min in a language of your choice,.,. in its most-purely-known form… Do you think you can do it… Then i would love to listen to you someday

Disclaimer: This does not convey that one language is better than the other… just that.. I like to listen when a language is spoken in a certain manner. (can’t say.. who we would end up offending)