Though only 18 languages are identified as official languages of India in constitution, India is land of thousands of languages. There are languages spoken by handful of people to languages spoken by millions of people. It is not uncommon to encounter Indians who speak or understand multiple languages.
When one knows more than one language, one peculiar situation arises. There are same words used in different languages but with very different meaning. I am going to list down and discuss some of the words which I have encountered. Add your words to the comment and I will update the blog ;)
Vaada - In Kannada, va'ada means argument where as in Hindi, it means promise.
Chowkashi - In Kannada means bargain where as in Marati it means inquire
tai - Used to address somebody as 'mother' in Kannada. Typical usage is for older ladies - Susheela-tai , means respectful mother. Whereas in Marati, it is used to address somebody as elder sister - Yogitha-tai means respectful sister. So mother becomes sister when language boundaries are crossed.
Khaas - In Kannada, Khaasameans close 'trusted' where as in Hindi, means 'special'.
Thursday, September 14, 2023
That Window
There is this window with a huge tree on the other side. It is the same window which was the only window to the external world.
I have this image stuck in my mind. Huge window with double glazed glass with dew condensed on the outer side. Room has just a door and a bed with minimalist furniture, like life of a expat in a foreign land. When it rains, only thing that can be seen is the big oak tree, that too in day time. During the night I can see hardly anything. There is snow everywhere on balcony that I can see from this window.
When I look out all that I see are those benches. But never saw anybody sitting on them or anything. Sometime I feel as if these benches were just kept so that one day somebody would walk by and sit on them.
I come back from work and open the window, my window to the outer world. Just gaze out for a while but see absolutely nothing every day. It has become so routine, I do not expect anything at all. Summer comes, grass on the outside start growing, I see some flowers bloom. It rains a lot and drenches all of the outside and slowly, grass turns black slowly as slowly winter sets in. I see oak tree changing colors and getting nude as the winter hits full on. So, it is a long wait for the Spring to spring back the life to this dull surrounding. Then I suddenly realize, how this cycle rejuvenates everything. Will there be a spring in our lives? Is there any end to this winter? Mind is full of questions.
I have this image stuck in my mind. Huge window with double glazed glass with dew condensed on the outer side. Room has just a door and a bed with minimalist furniture, like life of a expat in a foreign land. When it rains, only thing that can be seen is the big oak tree, that too in day time. During the night I can see hardly anything. There is snow everywhere on balcony that I can see from this window.
When I look out all that I see are those benches. But never saw anybody sitting on them or anything. Sometime I feel as if these benches were just kept so that one day somebody would walk by and sit on them.
I come back from work and open the window, my window to the outer world. Just gaze out for a while but see absolutely nothing every day. It has become so routine, I do not expect anything at all. Summer comes, grass on the outside start growing, I see some flowers bloom. It rains a lot and drenches all of the outside and slowly, grass turns black slowly as slowly winter sets in. I see oak tree changing colors and getting nude as the winter hits full on. So, it is a long wait for the Spring to spring back the life to this dull surrounding. Then I suddenly realize, how this cycle rejuvenates everything. Will there be a spring in our lives? Is there any end to this winter? Mind is full of questions.
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