A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words, Hobson-Jobson, is unknown to many, especially to those of the digital world. This tome came up at a discussion in the recently-held Bhopal Literature Festival. Only a few of the bygone era are acquainted with Hobson-Jobson, which provides etymological, historical, geographical and discursive description of a word. This book was once prescribed in many schools. Henry Yule and AC Burnell wrote the volume, which was published in 1886, and William Crooke edited its new version. It refers to how many Indian, Chinese, Urdu, Parsian and Arabic words have entered English language. That way it is useful to students and journalists. It tells a story about the origin of a word and its entry in the English language.
Every day, an Indian comes across the word – Dharna or Dhurna – which actually signifies to sit. Hobson-Jobson explains Dharna Dena or Baithna has originated from the Sanskrit verb ‘Dhri’ which means to hold. The question is that which verb a reporter should use for the noun Dharna. Is it correct to say to ‘hold Dharna’ for ‘Dharna Dena’? Or, is it correct to write to stage a dharna? To describe Dharna, the book says, “A mode of extorting payment or compliance with a demand, effected by the complainants or creditors sitting at the debtor’s door, and there remaining without testing food till his demand shall be complied with, or (sometimes) by threatening to do himself some mortal violence if be not complied with.” Traces of this custom in some forms can be found in many parts of the world.
A curious variety of this practice was in vogue in South India, and Marco Polo and many other travellers referred to it. The practice of Dharna was made an offence in the Indian Penal Code now called Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. There was also a systematic form of Dharna practised by classes of beggars in Punjab called Tasmiwallas or strap-riggers who twisted a leather strap around the neck and threw themselves on the ground before a shop, until alms were given, the book says. But this practice does not exist anymore.
In 1794, Sir J Shore wrote: “The practice called Dharna, which may be translated caption, or arrest.” It means it is a legal term. Hobson-Jobson says, “In 1808, a remarkable circumstance took place yesterday. Some Sirdars put the Maharaja (Sindia) in Dhurna.” He was angry and threatened to put them to death. Bhugwant Ras Byse, their head, said, “Sit still; put us to death.” Sindia was enraged and ordered him to be paid and driven away from camp, the book says, referring to Elphinstone’s Diary in Life. Dhurna or Dharna actually means to put someone in confinement or to surround someone for a demand to be complied with.
There are many more interesting stories. Let us talk about the word godown. Whenever this word is typed on a computer screen, a red line appears under it. It surprises the writer. The word is so much in use in India that one thinks it is an English word. The meaning of this word is clear: a storehouse and a Gudam in Bengali and Hindi. Hobson-Jobson says, “The word seems to have passed to the continent of India from the eastern settlements, where the Malay word Gadong is used in the sense of store-room.” Such a room was part of a brick or a stone-made house. It also appears in Telugu where it is called ‘Gidangi’ and, in Tamil, ‘Kidangu.’ It is also available in Sinhalese, Gudama. But when you type this work on your computer screen, you should keep away from being worried, because you may find a red line under this word. Still, should that happen, you may write store-room. Else, godown with a red mark is fine.
Another word that you use regularly is ‘a-muck’ signifying to run furiously and has an interesting story behind it. This expression came from the Malay countries. ‘A-muck’ is a way of committing suicide. WW Skeat writes: “The best explanation of the fact is perhaps that it was national method of committing suicide, especially as one never hears of Malays committing suicide in any other way.” The word has some Indian connections, too. Tod recorded: “In 1634, the eldest son of the Raja of Marwar ran a-muck at the court of Shah Jahan, failing in his blow at the emperor killing five courtiers, before he fell himself.”
