That Bollywood and Hindi television daily soaps are a hit in Pakistan is no news.
That Bollywood and Hindi television daily soaps are a hit in Pakistan is no news.
So, it’s hardly surprising that the Urdu-speaking population picks up and uses Hindi, even the tapori lingo, in its everyday interaction.
“The trend became popular a few years ago after Hindi films were officially allowed to be released in Pakistan,” said Rafia Taj, head of the mass communication department, University of Karachi.
“I don’t think it’s a threat to our language, as it is bound to happen in the globalisation era. It is anytime better than the attack of western slangs on our language,” she added.
Eyebrows were raised when a maulvi in Karachi, while announcing Eid last month, said, “Vishwas kijiye, chand dikha hai aur ham aaj Eid mana rahe hai. (Trust us, the moon has been sighted and we will celebrate Eid today).” The worshippers were stunned to hear the word vishwas in lieu of yakin from their spiritual leader. The incident has been the talk of the town since then.
The intellectuals now make a point by using the word mudda (issue) as a replacement for massla, while collegians do not hesitate to say wat lag gayi (I’m in trouble) when slammed by teachers for incomplete homework.
Taj said Hindi words such as ashirvaad (blessing), charcha (talk) and patni (wife) are often used in Pakistan. And college students often call their friends mamu — the word popularised by actor Sanjay Dutt in Munnabai MBBS — while conversing with friends.
Dr Farooq Sattar of the Muttahida Quami Movement, the second leading political party in Pakistan, believes that this mingling of Hindi and Urdu words will help reduce cultural barriers between the two nations. “Sometimes, even I use dialogues such as ‘Tension leneka nahi, deneka’ (Don’t take tension, give it). We tend to use such language because it attracts people,” he added.
Zainab Saher, a second-year Arts student from Karachi University, said, “Even our lifestyle and attire have been inspired by Bollywood films.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}