Bidding adieu is not that easy a task. Really so; the last post said that it might be the end of my zeal to write, the lost spark and lost words that can intermingle, grow and create the magic together. (What? I never had that? Ok.. No problem!)

But I am back… with some twisted-turned words.. although, may not be in the same mood and taste… Let’s find in…

Given the self-induced break, I took some time to read. It was not that routine affair, but as the midnight oil ceases to exist because me getting the last trip ‘home’ – roaming around Lucknow city – I got hold of a book – Entry From Backside Only by Binoo K John. Read that?

Have you seen the ‘Sign of the Times’ portion in The Times of India? It carries a special photograph being contributed by the readers about certain signs that are unique in itself. From “Mr. Baahcood” to “Potty’s Restaurant”, the signs say a deeper meaning that India is a vast country and some words can take a paradigm shift if that is uttered in a different part of the country. The book, Entry From Backside Only, discusses many Indian-ised English forms that often lands in trouble here in India itself!

The numerous errors and funny messages in billboards too find a place therein. Just note: “…the attempt to have Indian titles or catchlines has landed Indian companies in deep shit, literally. An apple juice company renamed their product ‘Appy’, which in Malayalam and Tamil slang means excreta. The advertising copies could be like these: ‘Thirsty? Sip Appy, so slurpy’. ‘The Biggest Appy: Thank you for sipping it all the way’”.

In a similar distortion of message, in an email advertisement to project Agra better in the minds of the youth, the copy reads: Via-Agra. The Indian-ised English finds a place in the Amul hoardings too – although done in a very effective manner.

The point now is, we distort everything, the language, the message and even sounds horrible; but we try to derive something new. Is this not adventure in English language? It is said that the Indian-ised English has found a place in the world ‘market’ too; maybe because China ain’t giving enough competition in that. Day-to-day examples where people pronounce “substance” as “sab-as-tance” is not uncommon.

From the early days of the Raj, the Indian version of English has been on a ‘growth trajectory’ that has led to the evolution. It can be the murder of the classics, or the growth of twisted words wherein a 3500 words article would tend to solve the Indo-Pak dispute or the Babri Maszid-Ram Janmabhumi issue.

Whatever, I am not in a position to write the review of the book as yet. I have not finished it and by going through the half of the pages, I find it to be a good read – of course not like May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss. The review of the books will surely be posted at a later time. Till then, its goodbye again…