Just spent the last 27 hours in a train filled with 100% hindus

I got talking to several people in adjacent seats.<br><br>1. I met a couple with a 4 year old son. They were from Haryana and speaking Punjabi. I asked them if they were sikh, they said no. I asked them that if they are Hindu then why are they speaking Punjabi? They said it's their mother tongue. The father's job brought him to Jaipur where he met his wife who also spoke Punjabi. I asked them if they know Hindi? They said yes, but that's not their mother tongue. I asked if their son knows Hindi? They said yes. I asked if their son knows Punjabi? They said yes. I said to them why don't you guys speak Hindi with your son since he is Indian and it's the most widely spoken language? They said it's not their mother tongue, so they can't speak it with each other or with our son.<br><br>2. I met a Gujju couple with a 2 year old son and 4 year old daughter. I asked them if they can speak Hindi? They said yes. I asked them why are they speaking Gujju with each other and with their kids? They said they can't speak Hindi with each other because they are from Gujarat. I asked them if their kids know Hindi? They said yes. I asked them if they know English? They said yes. I asked them, I am a Jaat from Haryana, I have lived in US for many years. What language do you think I should speak with my kids assuming I have them, and assuming I find a wife from Haryana or from the US? They said they don't know.<br><br>3. I met a UP Brahmin couple, they were speaking English with each other. I asked them if they are both from UP or if one or both of them are from the US or UK? I asked them if they can speak Hindi? They said yes. I asked them if they can speak Bhojpuri or some other dialect? They said yes. I asked them why they are speaking English with each other? They said they are a cosmopolitan couple.<br><br>4. I met a group of 6 young IIT students all with a shaved head. I asked them if they are Buddhist monks? They said no, they are Hindus and all of them are from tamilnadu. They were speaking amongst themselves in English but I overheard them. I asked them if they know Hindi? They said yes. I asked them if they know Tamil? They said yes. I asked them if they know Sanskrit? They said yes. I asked them if they know their IT job requires speaking in English? They said yes. I asked them how they know so many languages? They said they are all from Chennai tamilnadu. I asked them why are they speaking English amongst yourselves? They said it's easier to speak in English since it's a global language and their IT jobs require it. I asked them so what do you call your parents and siblings? They said we call them by english names. I asked them why do you have english names? They said we are all from Chennai tamilnadu and grew up speaking English. I asked them do tamils speak in tamil at home? They said yes. I said but you guys are speaking english amongst yourselves and tamil with relatives. I asked them if tamil is their mother tongue? They all replied in the negative. I asked them if english is their mother tongue? They all replied in the affirmative.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>PS - this is my real experience. I can't make all this up. I have to deal with these very real scenarios every day. This isn't a joke for me.