WTF #6

Chutnefying English

Hindi and English, once pitted against each other as adversaries, now inhabit a common space and complement each other, sometimes in the same utterance. The interspersing of Hindi and English is most common in advertisers' tag-lines, literature, films, graffiti, short message service, songs and everyday conversations. With not inconsiderable homogenization, this phenomenon is called "Hinglish," a term we wish to understand and debate.

MICA is organizing an historic conference called "Chutnefying English," in which eminent scholars and practitioners are invited to debate the notion of Hinglish from the point of view of their disciplines-language studies, literature, culture studies, advertisement, communication and media studies, management, etc. contributing to what we hope will be a rich and textured array of perspectives. The conference will also incorporate panel discussions on whether Hinglish is a unifying language, and whether it has promise of being a language of tomorrow's business.

Academic contributions made at the conference will be edited as a book by Rita Kothari and Rupert Snell, and published by Penguin India.

Please note that the venue for the conference has been changed to Hotel Le Royal Méridien Mumbai

Why You Should Attend

 

As Hinglish becomes an increasingly common phenomenon in day-to-day language usage throughout India, it is imperative for anybody interested in doing business in India or for any academic studying modern India to have an in-depth understanding of this complex subject. This conference will provide a first-of-its-kind, up-to-date look at issues surrounding Hinglish. Attendees will hear not only from the top academics that have done research in this field, but also the perspectives of industry leaders that produce content in Hinglish. This unique and rare bridging of academia with industry promises to be not only highly interesting, but also a fruitful exercise that will be of great assistance to you. Attend this premiere historic conference to connect and interact with leaders and like-minded peers and gain a deep understanding of Hinglish.

Who Should Attend

 

Chutnefying English is the first international conference that has been organized on the topic of Hinglish and is the only event on this subject to offer such a vast array of global perspectives. It is especially relevant for:

• Market research specialists, research analysts, media researchers, and communication researchers
• Account planners and managers, copywriters, and creative directors
• Field workers
• Senior management executives
• Academics
• Education policy makers
• Media planners

Love Story 2050???

Notwithstanding,  whatever nonsense you've been told by Archies/ Hallmark/ Wikipedia, the truth is  that Valentine's Day originated in India, and to top it, in  Gujarat of all places! 
  
It is a known  fact that the Gujarati men, especially the Patels don't treat  their wives (Patel'anis) with respect. One fine day, it  happened to be 14th day of February; one brave Patel'ani had  had enough of torture by her husband, then she  finally chose to rebel by beating him up with a  Velan...(rolling pin)  
  
Yeah, the same  Velan with which she made chapattis for him everyday; only this  time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened.  This was a  momentous occasion for all the Gujarati women and  a revolt soon spread like wild fire, with several housewives  beating up their husbands with Velan and there was an  outbreak of moaning chapattis all over Anand and Amdavad. The  Patel men folk learnt their lesson and behaved a bit better  with their  Patel'ani partners.  
  
Thereafter each  year that day, the womenfolk as a token gesture, beat up their  husbands to commemorate that eventful day, thus the wives having  the satisfaction of beating up their husbands with Velan, and  the guys having the supreme joy of submitting to the whims of  the women they loved. 
  
Soon Gujju  men realised that in order to avoid this ordeal, they  need to bring flowers and gifts for their  wives.  
  
So the tradition  began. As Gujarat fell more under the influence of  Western culture that day was called 'Velan time' day. Hence  this ritual soon spread to  Britain & many other Western  countries, specifically, the catch words 'Velan  time!'.  
  
Of course in their  foreign mouths, it was bast ard ized to 'Velantime' and then  to 'Velantine'. And from that day onwards, 14th of February,  came to be known as Valentine's Day!

PS: This was an e-mail forward that tickled my funny bone. too good to not put up here. Atleast till I can come up with a better origin story and retconn it into the human history's collective consciousness.