rabhupāda: Yes. Sanskrit is very difficult. But when I have given in English language, you can convert into any other. English is known everywhere. This is international. So far I have seen—I've traveled all over the world—English language is understood. Sometimes they purposefully avoid. Otherwise, they understand. I have seen in Germany. They understand English, but they hate talking.
Satsvarūpa: In France, too. In France they don't speak English.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Satsvarūpa: They don't want to.
Prabhupāda: Yes. There is agitation in Canada.
Satsvarūpa: Yes, Quebec.
Prabhupāda: Just like here it happened, Hindi and English. That enviousness is always there. I have seen in Montreal, all the officers, they are speaking in French. They won't talk in English. (chuckles) The airport. Purposefully. And there was fight, regular fight between these French-speaking and English-speaking. Riot. People are so foolish. So it is bilingual. In everything, English and French. If you put one notice, it must be in English and French, as here (chuckling), in the provincial language, Oriya, and Hindi, state language, and English for outsiders—three languages. You'll see in the railway station the local language and the Hindi language and English. Actually people take advantage of the English language, and little more from the Hindi. Local language nobody knows. Just like we do not know what is Oriya.
Hari-śauri: (laughing) The people that speak the local language can't read it. So the signs are useless. Anybody who is educated enough to read it can read...
Prabhupāda: English language understood. English... They speak in English. In big, big cities like Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, even the girls, young girls, they would like to speak in English. They don't like to speak in their... At home even, with their father and mother, they're speaking in English. Especially in Bombay, everyone speaks. Not now. I have connection with Bombay since 1927. In 1927 I first went to Bombay. So how many years? Fifty years? I have seen it. They speak in English. They are sending their children where education is given by medium English. High-class men, they send their children to learn through medium of English. There is Calcutta, St. Xavier's College, near our temple.
Satsvarūpa: Hindu College?
Prabhupāda: No. St. Xavier's. All Indian students, all very rich man's sons. I sent my sons to English medium, St. Mary's High School and St. Teresa's school. Learned English very nicely. Scottish Churches College. I was educated in Scottish... All our professors European, Englishmen and Scotsmen.
Satsvarūpa: I think you wrote somewhere that Sanskrit should be the national...
Prabhupāda: That is very difficult. No, I... They wanted to make a national language. There was fight, great fight. Therefore I suggested, "Why not make Sanskrit language?" Everyone will adore.
Satsvarūpa: Because English is the language of the invaders; Sanskrit...
Prabhupāda: Yes. I have no objection, English. But if they wanted that national language, why not take Sanskrit? I am international. I don't believe in this national or statewise. I never believed. This is very good idea, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam (ISO 1). God is the proprietor. He is the original father. Ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā (BG 14.4). Why do they not take this philosophy? They have attempted this United Nation organization. And where is the philosophy how to make one state? That is cheating them. Why not make one state?
Hari-śauri: They actually don't desire that.
Prabhupāda: No.