‘Please don't speak ill about my mother tongue’

After the criticism following Coke Studio Bangla's latest song, "Nahubo", Animes Roy took to social media to address something that has been on his mind.

"I am a Bangalee and Bangladeshi. However, the issue is that I have another mother tongue—from birth and through my community—which is the Hajong language. I have learned to speak this language since birth. However, after growing up, I understood that our state language is Bangla. So, I began learning Bangla. Since then, the majority of the words that I have ever spoken to people have been in Bangla," read the post.

The artiste would then go on to say that he can't remember the last time he spoke in anything but Bangla. He also added that this does not cause him or his community any grief, as he is Bangalee and both languages have become intertwined in his heart in many ways. 

"The Hajong language doesn't have its own alphabet. Maybe someday we will have a set of alphabets. That's why, for a long time, I have been trying to preserve this native tongue of mine through my music, where Coke Studio Bangla has helped a lot," continued Animes' post. 

The artiste then continued to express his grief and disappointment with some of the harsh comments made by netizens about the language used in "Nahubo".

"I know many of you are having a hard time understanding the song easily, due to linguistic reasons. For that, I am sorry. However, I can say that I did not compose this song with any negative or bad words, which would bring shame to my Hajong community. So, I would request everyone, please don't speak ill about my mother tongue. I am not such an ill willed person," shared the "Nasek Nasek" singer. 

He would then go on to say that it is natural to not like all music. Animes stated that he wants to continue to showcase the diversity of Bangalee culture through his music. He also clarified that this post was directed towards those who were offended by his use of the Hajong language.

Recently, Coke Studio Bangla released their third song from the second season, titled "Nahubo". The song featured the returning Coke Studio Bangla artiste, Animes Roy—who had previously caused an uproar with his song "Nasek Nasek" as the platform's first ever song. Since its release, "Nahubo" has been criticised for its language and music composition.