Can Chat Gpt become a tool for improvement? Thought Experiment

 I have been blogging consistently for quite a while. The topics for these come from things I read or hear and relate to the state of mind I am in or the situations I face in life. Today, I have started to wonder weather I can paint descriptive pictures of events or relate stories about relationships in a conversational story style. To do this I am in searching for courses on the Art of Clear writing. Xavier's Institution of Communication is offering one but it is all about fiction writing and while a Memoir is certainly not fictional, it is based on memories and the memory as we remember which can be virtually fictional. I would then use a term fiction based on facts and call factional if such a term exists. While I want to write a story about myself, the imposter syndrome creeps into me. We are all made of multitudes and each one of us has a story worth telling, but can we tell it effectively and will the reader find it to be a smooth interesting easy read? These questions plague my mind. Writing my blog gives me pleasure and makes my thoughts on material I read clearer. Similarly, I expect that writing a memoir or a story of my life may give a perspective and insight different from my present self belief. 

I would therefore be very keen to get a critical feedback on what I write in terms of the following important parameters. 

• Does the Title make you decide weather to read the blog?
• Is it a smooth or disjointed read, do you feel you are riding in a smooth luxury car on a highway or in a Truck or bus on a bumpy road or in a bullock cart on a village dirt track?
• How often you read from start to finish without a break?
• Long form articles with depth is preferable according to me, but with young generation perhaps time and attention span are limiting factors. 
• Controversy and opinion pieces do attract comments but on predicted divisive lines based on the present polarized polity, even as I try to remain neutral. 
• Personal posts and obituaries get higher readership but that comes from the topical nature of the event.

 The rules of short sentences and avoidance of adjectives has not been easy to implement. Action words are not effectively used to move a story or narrative forward. Paragraphs to follow the rule on conclusion first followed by description and re emphasis on the main point have not been consciously done in my blogs. 

I propose to write a few blogs about human interest stories about individuals who have by sheer determination and hard work made an impact and brought their families out from difficult times and progressed in life. 

Chat Gpt is defined as a Large Language Model which draws upon the internet to create human language almost as good as one can write and also has the capability of formatting and suggesting a different title if need be. The pros of this is that a person with less knowledge of the English language can create properly drafted and worded applications, Curriculum Vitaes, notices etc. in best formats. This means that persons who have the practical skills in a job will be empowered to apply even as their knowledge of the English language is rudimentary. However, it will the initiative of individuals to learn  the language and become more proficient in their jobs. 

In the month of November 2024 I wrote a blog https://vhjokhi.blogspot.com/2024/11/english-medium-education-how-much-does.html. The link has been shared. ChatGpt was told to improve it and the result is quite revealing. I request you to read the original and the new version. Only after doing so I request your serious comments and let me know if you think AI regeneration is a good thing or unethical? If unethical would acknowledging use of AI post blog creation would justify the use of ChatGpt and make it respectable? Some parts about Parsi lineage which is hyper local have been removed, suggesting that ChatGpt seems human after all.

Reassessing English Medium Education: Navigating Cultural and Linguistic Realities 

The importance of English medium education often presents a Hobson's choice, where a "yes" or "no" response carries equally valid implications. Language serves as a means to an end; in today’s transactional world, many perceive English medium education as crucial for advancement. In India, the prominence of English is tied to its role in higher education across the UK, USA, and other former colonies. A generation ago, rural India faced a severe shortage of schools, particularly English medium institutions. Historically, the literature available in local languages paled in comparison to that in English. British colonization led to the dominance of English, driving the necessity of English proficiency for social and economic mobility. 

India is a unique tapestry of cultural and linguistic diversity. Each region boasts distinct geographical and cultural identities, rendering them somewhat unrecognizable as a unified nation. Nevertheless, a constitutional framework safeguards individual rights, while a federal system—despite its centralization—offers some autonomy to states. The linguistic reorganization of states was a political strategy to mitigate communal tensions and foster a sense of unity. 

In discussing the evolution of the English versus vernacular debate, I find insights in Peggy Mohan's book, Wanderers, Kings, Merchants: The Story of India through its Languages. Conventional beliefs suggest that Dravidian languages were native to pre-colonial India while Sanskrit arrived later. However, Mohan posits that language evolves through interactions with conquerors and local populations, resulting in a dynamic linguistic landscape. Languages in India, characterized by retroflex sounds from Dravidian influences, demonstrate this mixing. No group that settled in India maintains a "pure" identity, as cultural assimilation and language interplay have been integral over centuries. 

Language serves as a medium of communication, and hence, knowing English provides a transactional advantage in a globalized context. This situation mirrors the historical ascent of Persian among native Indians under Mughal rule and the emergence of Hinglish—a blend of Hindi and English. English, imposed by British rulers who distinguished themselves through cultural superiority, became a tool for retaining control. The 1835 English Language Act, promoted by T.B. Macaulay, sought to cultivate an educated Indian class that was culturally aligned with British ideals, often to the detriment of native languages. 

Reflecting on my experiences, my father attended a Gujarati school yet recognized the benefits of English education, which my mother received. In 1960, motivated by the desire for better opportunities, our parents made significant sacrifices to ensure my sister and I received an English medium education. Their hard work secured our financial stability, enabling us to pursue successful careers as a Chartered Accountant and an Orthopaedic Surgeon. 

Though my father’s English pronunciation drew some humorous remarks from us, his grasp of English grammar impressed us. However, my experiences in medical college helped me realize the limitations of my linguistic knowledge. My inability to engage deeply with ancient scriptures and texts, often lost in translation, highlighted a disadvantage I had never noticed before. Recognizing the impact of Macaulay’s policies, I appreciate the English language for facilitating my expression, yet I also lament the cultural disconnect from native languages. As a parent in the 1990s, we moved to ensure my differently abled daughter could access English medium education, instilling in me a desire to bridge my language gaps by learning Marathi, Gujarati, and Hindi. 

In conclusion, I admire those fluent in multiple languages and aspire to master Sanskrit alongside Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi. My parents’ choice of an English education has undoubtedly shaped my life, but I ponder the notion that I might have thrived even without it. The journey toward linguistic diversity remains continuous, enriching my understanding of culture and identity. 

I have purposely chosen a short blog so that my gentle reader is not burdened with too much extra reading. So is there a need to learn better writing skills os simply use and acknowledge the same. Can Chat Gpt substitute the fun of learning and creating unique styles of writing. It is an ethical dilemma and I urge you to give your views on the same.

Vispi Jokhi