Sushila cuddles with her dogs at her Santacruz residence.
Language, no barrier
Sushila Shirali, lives with three generations of Cocker Spaniels — grandma Cuddles, mother Magic and grand daughter Dudoom.
The family heirloom that has been passed down from generation to generation is not a diamond-studded collar or a special chewy toy but, “It’s the Konkani language,” declares Sushila proudly, who doesn’t talks to her dogs in English.
Language therapy
The dogs’ understanding of the language goes way beyond simple commands like “sit” and “roll over”. The one that gets them most excited is “Malawali osoo ya”.
“We have a farm house at a hill station called Malawli, which is their favourite place. So, when I say, ‘we are going to Malawli’, it gets them all riled up. They even wear matching T-shirts and pile up into the Santro before us! It’s quite an event for them,” explains Sushila.
Another one of their favourite lines is when Sushila announces the arrival of her daughter, Niyanta, and grandson Yuvraj. “It’s probably the tone in which I say it, but it’s quite amazing that they react to full sentences, and not just one-word commands,” says the teacher.
Speaking to her dogs in Konkani is also Sushila’s small way of carrying on her own family tradition. “English is the dominant language in our home.
So, it feels nice to speak to someone in my mother tongue,” she smirks.
The black and white trio also double up as shrinks for this teacher.
“Cuddles, Magic and Dudoom are very sensitive to my emotions, and they aren’t judgmental. I pour my heart out to them, in Konkani of course.”
Religion=mithai
After a Ganpati puja at the Shirali residence, the first modaks are given to their three pets. Even during Diwali, they have the right to the first Kaju Katris, when the box opens.
“For them all festivals and religious ceremonies at home are synonymous with mithais. Especially Dudoom,” laughs Sushila, who named him Dudoom because as a puppy, he kept falling, and creating a ‘dudoom’ sound.
Language, no barrier
Sushila Shirali, lives with three generations of Cocker Spaniels — grandma Cuddles, mother Magic and grand daughter Dudoom.
The family heirloom that has been passed down from generation to generation is not a diamond-studded collar or a special chewy toy but, “It’s the Konkani language,” declares Sushila proudly, who doesn’t talks to her dogs in English.
Language therapy
The dogs’ understanding of the language goes way beyond simple commands like “sit” and “roll over”. The one that gets them most excited is “Malawali osoo ya”.
“We have a farm house at a hill station called Malawli, which is their favourite place. So, when I say, ‘we are going to Malawli’, it gets them all riled up. They even wear matching T-shirts and pile up into the Santro before us! It’s quite an event for them,” explains Sushila.
Another one of their favourite lines is when Sushila announces the arrival of her daughter, Niyanta, and grandson Yuvraj. “It’s probably the tone in which I say it, but it’s quite amazing that they react to full sentences, and not just one-word commands,” says the teacher.
Speaking to her dogs in Konkani is also Sushila’s small way of carrying on her own family tradition. “English is the dominant language in our home.
So, it feels nice to speak to someone in my mother tongue,” she smirks.
The black and white trio also double up as shrinks for this teacher.
“Cuddles, Magic and Dudoom are very sensitive to my emotions, and they aren’t judgmental. I pour my heart out to them, in Konkani of course.”
Religion=mithai
After a Ganpati puja at the Shirali residence, the first modaks are given to their three pets. Even during Diwali, they have the right to the first Kaju Katris, when the box opens.
“For them all festivals and religious ceremonies at home are synonymous with mithais. Especially Dudoom,” laughs Sushila, who named him Dudoom because as a puppy, he kept falling, and creating a ‘dudoom’ sound.
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