Sometimes we know that something is inevitible even if we are hoping against hope that it doesn't happen. Like the imminent break-up of a wonderful but deadend relationship. Or like the onset of the unbearable month of May in Bombay. Or like the latest - an official decision to accept American spelling in University exams.

I was pretty much heartbroken but i cannot say i didn't see it coming. The schools and colleges of India will now overlook the bastardisation (or should i say bastardization) of English by allowing American spelling to go in written work. Apparently this is because 'the world is shrinking and we must move with the times". So basicallly when the world shrinks, words like 'colour' and 'honour' must shrink too, and become 'color' and 'honor'. Yikes. I'm cringing even as i write it.

The computers and the internet have brought about the change, they say. SO? The computers and the internet have also brought porn. Why don't we just make that legal too? Ok, ok, maybe i am overreacting, but the excuse is still lame. Just because Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are American the whole English speaking world does not need to drop its u's and replace its s's with z's. Or should i say zee's. Yikes.

Anyway, what to do but to lapse into our own Indian version of the language. Might as well.