Telling request

During the launch of mobile number portability in Rohtak (Haryana) on November 25, officials present tried to deliver their speeches in Hindi, since this is, after all, the Hindi heartland. When it was Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman J S Sarma’s turn, he told the audience, in Hindi, that the language was not his mother tongue (he is from Andhra) and sought forgiveness for any mistakes in advance. The response from the audience comprising residents and college students from Rohtak was instructive: it loudly requested Sarma to make his speech in English, which is what he eventually did.