Here are some more words and terms I’ve stumbled across during my India-migration preparations.  Again – I point these out not because they are laughable or substandard, but because they are new to me, and illustrate the fact that English while common bridge among many speakers, can befuddle as well as unite. Please note that my sample is skewed to the sensational, because most of my sources are newspapers.

Here are three from local news coverage that all have to do with social action.  There’s probably nuance or hierarchy of severity here that I’m missing.  I’m inferring definition from context, and I don’t have tons of data points to figure out finer shades of meaning.  Please chime in with corrections if you  have them.

Bandobast – I love the sound of this one.   From the usage it appears to be an ad-hoc group pursuing a common purpose, especially a grass-roots one, as opposed to that of a standing organization.  There appears to be a nuance of self-organization, individual action, and spontaneity to a bandobast.  A group of volunteers picking up litter after an arts festival or handing out water to marathon runners might be considered to be bandobasts.  But not all bandobast actions are benign.

Morcha – A morcha seems to be used when a group of people self-organizes to pursue a specific social or political agenda.  Although I see traffic-blocking street protests referred to using “bandobast,” “morcha” seems to be used more for organized actions we’d call labor strikes or work slowdowns.  I’m unsure if the Occupy Movement’s actions in various US cities this year past would be considered bandobasts or morchas.

Bandh – This appears to be a major form of organized protest – a universal strike, in which the entire population of a region stays home, eschewing all work, school, commerce, or travel.  It’s a powerful tool of civil protest. I’ve found through further reading that it has been banned, although calls for bandh actions are still made.

 And some more general terms:

 Godown – From context, seems to be a storage facility or warehouse district.  I’ve seen some articles that use ‘godown’ to refer to industrial buildings of indistinct past use but large size, now repurposed to serve civic needs.

 Octroi – I know this one from Medieval history.  In historical usage, it’s a tax, levied on the goods moved between states; not exactly a customs duty, it’s more like a custody transfer tax. In the India context I’m unsure if this is a commercial tax, paid by corporations and possibly by municipal entities, although I think it is – as opposed to a direct tax paid by individuals.  (That’s not to say that costs aren’t trickled down.)

 Corporators – the closest I can figure is that these are local representatives.  In the US, depending on the type of local governance and size of the local area, these might be ward representatives, town meeting or city council members.  I am unsure if Corporators are appointed or elected.  More reading is warranted.

 Scheme – this is a nuance difference in usage.  In the Indian newspapers, scheme appears to be used as a synonym for plan.  For example, municipal corporations (city governance organizations) can have schemes for handling various civic challenges.  However in the US, a scheme would have a sinister connotation, with an undertone of illicit secrecy.  It’s a word used in the US more to designate the plans of evildoers and malcontents, than it is used to describe honest and forthright actions taken to benefit others.

I’ll keep on posting these from time to time, to entertain and edify. Perhaps some future expat will find these posts useful.

As part of the preparation for our grand India adventure, I’ve been reading everything I can about Pune and the surrounding area.  This includes on-line editions of local newspapers, history books, and blogs.  I’m learning a lot, finding facts, trends, and rumors – the hard and soft aspects of our soon-to-be home and its stew of cultures.

My primary sources are the web-available English language newspapers.  I admit that they provide a skewed viewpoint.  I know that I would not want someone to draw vast conclusions about the US by reading any one or two papers here (especially the tabloids or political slush papers). Still, slanted as they are in reporting eye catching, sensational crime stories, or presenting views tinted by biases I do not yet understand, they are a fascinating source of words, turns of phrase, references, and names of institutions that are new to me.  These usages are just as current, legitimate and topical as any writing or speech anywhere else. I am reporting these not because they are strange, but because they are novel to my ear.

Dacoity – This one was reported by the Resident Male.  In the US it would be called “armed robbery” or in an older time – alleybashing.  Someone sticking up the local convenience store would be a dacoit.

Sharp weapons – Also reported by the Resident Male. We’d say “edged weapons.”  Knives, mostly.  Seems to be the favored arsenal for dacoity.

Nullah – A steep sided gully through which infrequent (but dangerous) storm water surges flow.  If a natural feature, depending on the part of the country here we’d call it an arroyo, canyon, gully, gulch, or gorge.  If man-made it might be a culvert or storm drain.

Housing society – In the US it would be a housing cooperative or “co-op” for short.  A building or neighborhood in which the owners share the pooled cost of common area maintenance and general services for all.  Like here though, there are maintenance fees and (when needed) special assessments.  “Society” is also used to mean the grounds of the housing complex itself, especially enclosed communities formed of single family houses with walled gardens, inside a larger gated perimeter.

Overbridge – Overpass, like a  highway overpass or a traffic fly-over.

Municipal Corporation – Depending on the size and organization of the city or town in the US the equivalent would be the city or town council and mayor’s office.  I’m still working this out, but it appears that civic governance is not by direct election of representatives to the municipal corporation, but I may be wrong.  More on this as I learn myself.

E-Way – The equivalent here would be a expressway, major highway or turnpike, probably a major Interstate or state route.

Lokshahi din – Grievance sessions held by a Municipal Corporation.  Citizens with a compliant about municipal function or services delivery can submit it in writing, then go to a hearing where a municipal commissioner can render a judgement, to which all parties are bound.  These tend to be held by civic zone (what we’d call city ward or district).

Jawan – I deduce this is a security guard, policeman, or soldier on security detail.  Jawans are deployed on the trains to maintain security and order.  I’m unsure if the male uniformed guards checking bag contents and running metal detectors outside of most public buildings would also be called jawans, or what (if any) the equivalent term for a female officer might be.

Chowki – This one caught me by surprise but shouldn’t have.  It’s a local police station or jail.  I’d always wondered where the Brit/US slang “chokey” for the local slammer came from.  Now I know.

Chowk – by contrast, this is a town square.  I guess in India, Arlington Center would be known as Arlington Chowk.

I’ll continue to vacuum up what I can, posting occasional vocabulary updates as my linguistic dust cup fills.