Twinkle Twinkle Najma Najma

Nursery rhymes are probably the only few growing up trends that haven’t changed for the new generation of our techno savvy children.

Born and raised in India, as a child, I learnt all the nursery rhymes that were passed on to us by the British rule. Frankly, “London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady” was something I never understood till I grew up! It was totally out of context. I always thought that when the bridge closes, they say its falling down!!

Most phrases in many of the rhymes such as “one for my master, one for my dame” or “in my lady’s chamber” cannot not be related to. Nonetheless the songs were memorized and kept away in a folder of the mind, to be revisited whenever needed.

But the other day, I heard my son singing “Twinkle Twinkle Najma Najma”, and he told me,” Amma, Najma means star! “ I was delighted…and proud of both him and the school, for teaching them the same songs with a regional tweak.

A part of my heart fears, perhaps my ‘Third Culture Kid’ will not learn much about his home country, the rich history and geography…and our freedom struggle. But at least he is learning something about the place where he was born . And I am getting to learn a bit of Arabic too!

~ Happy Mother’s Day!

In Arabia, it is celebrated on the 21st of March.