Dear Listers, A friend sent me the following gems of Indian official English. I have added one of my own at the end. Infosys, Bangalore: An employee applied for leave: "Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one-week leave." This is from Oracle Bangalore: From an employee who wants leave to perform the "mundan" ceremony of his 10 year old son (Bestowing of the Sacred Thread, a necessity for a Brahmin. The head is completely shaved as a part of the ritual.): "As I want to shave my son's head, please leave me for two days.." Another gem from C-DAC. Letter asking for leave sent in by an employee for performing his daughter's wedding: "As I am marrying my daughter, please grant a week's leave." From Hindusthan Aeronautics Ltd. Administration Dept: "As my mother-in-law has expired and I am the only one responsible, please grant me 10 days leave." Another employee applied for a half-day leave as follows: "Since I've to go to the cremation ground at 10 o'clock and I may not return, please grant me a half-day's casual leave" A letter seeking leave: "I am suffering from fever, please declare one-day holiday." A letter of leave addressed to the Headmaster: "As I am studying in this school, I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today" Another leave letter to the Headmaster: "As my headache is paining, please grant me leave for the day." Covering note: "I am enclosed herewith..." Another one: "Dear Sir, with reference to the above, please refer to below..." An application of leave: "My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home I may be granted leave". A letter begins: "I am well here and hope you are also in the same well." A candidate's application for a job: "This has reference to your advertisement calling for a 'Typist and Accountant - Male or Female'. As I am both for the past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the post. This last one is my personal favorite. Chimanrao Jog is a humorous fictional character of the 1940's. He is a clerk, working for his boss Mr.Turnbull, in the Ordnance Factory in Poona. Like any good son, he performs his late father's Shraaddh Rite every year on the anniversary of his father's death. As a part of this ritual, Brahmins are fed and they represent the dead forebears. In Marathi this is literally called 'feeding the forefathers'. Chimanrao translates this into English and writes to his boss Mr.Turnbull: Sir, As my forefathers will be coming to my house tomorrow for lunch, please grant me one day's leave of absence. Your obedient servant, C.V.Jog Arvind Kolhatkar, Toronto, June 12, 2010.

New book on British writer's friendship with 'bandit queen' Phoolan Devi PTI, Jun 10, 2010, LONDON: The unlikely friendship between Roy Moxham, a British writer, and India's 'bandit queen', Phoolan Devi, is the subject of a new book that claims to be the only account of the former MP's life after her release from jail in 1994. The book is based on extensive correspondence between the two, even though Devi did not know English. She dictated her replies to Moxham's letters and the two became friends. Titled 'India's Bandit Queen and Me', the book, writer Moxham says, "above all, this is the story of a friendship". Narrating the course of events that led to his friendship with one of the most feared dacoits at one time, Moxham says: "In 1992 I did a very strange thing.I wrote to Phoolan Devi, who was languishing in an Indian jail. She had surrendered under a deal that should have led to her release the previous year" He adds: "Although illiterate, she dictated a reply and we corresponded regularly.I gave her some help and advice. Phoolan was finally released in 1994.I met with her in India that year and we became friends.On my many visits to India in the following years I stayed and travelled with her. Moxham, a former book conservator and lecturer, spends most of his time living in London and travelling in India. He is the author of 'Tea - Addiction Exploitation and Empire' (2003) and 'The Great Hedge of India' (2001). "She was an amazingly cheerful woman given all the trauma she had experienced in her life.She was always smiling and cracking jokes even though she had a harsh and poverty-stricken childhood and was victim of what I believe was a serious miscarriage of justice -- for which she spent nine years in jail", BBC quoted Moxham as saying while recalling his association with her. After her release from prison and entry into the Lok Sabha, he said Devi had none of the trappings of power shown by other politicians. "I remember her on her knees cleaning her flat because she refused to employ servants.She was also extremely charismatic - the sort of person who could walk into a room and instantly command attention", Moxham said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/New-book-on-British-writers-friendship-with-bandit-queen-Phoolan-Devi/articleshow/6030678.cms --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Frederick Dibblee was a railway engineer, trained in Canada but mostly working in India. http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/genealogy/dibblee/index.htm Railways worked on by F L Dibblee between 1856 and 1888 http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/genealogy/dibblee/railways.htm While working on the Nagpur Railway survey for the Bengal- Nagpur railway, Frederick Dibblee shooting some cows thinking they were bears. This happened near Bilaspur while doing this survey. It gives some idea of the group of people who travelled with Frederick Dibblee when he was doing his surveys. See the photo of an elephant shunting a train on the Bengal- Nagpur railway (BNR), at - http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/genealogy/dibblee/story.htm http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/genealogy/dibblee/story.htm --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar Nagpur, India

Snipped from http://gerald-massey.org.uk/hood/c_comic_annual_3.htm '' East India company is the worst of all company. A Lady fresh from Calcutta once endeavoured to curry Johnson's favour by talking of nothing but howdahs, doolies, and bungalows, till the Doctor took, as usual, to tiffin. "Madam," said he, in a tone that would have scared a tiger out of a jungle, "India's very well for a rubber or for a bandana, or for a cake of ink; but what with its Bhurtpore, Pahlumpore, Barrackpore, Hyderapore, Singapore, and Nagpore, its Hyderabad, Astrabad, Bundlebad, Sindbad, and Guzzaratbadbad, it's a poor and bad country altogether." >From the pen of THOMAS HOOD, Humorist and Poet (May 23, 1799 - May 3, 1845) http://gerald-massey.org.uk/hood/index.htm --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

*** Indian Tales by Patrick O'Meara (1930-2009) *** "Indian Tales" is a fascinating account of a British-Colonial military family who lived in India during the days of the British Empire and ended in 1947 at the time of Indian Independence. It has all the elements of an historical novel - adventures, human relationships, tragedy, with a pleasant mixture of humorous anecdotes. The use of first-person narrative, in this case, is very effective, since it traces the life of a young lad growing up in India. The writing is polished and the use of anecdotes is a way of propelling the narrative. *** Online at - http://www.indian-tales.com/default.htm Contents - http://www.indian-tales.com/sitemap.asp References to Nagpur - Bangalore - << Near to Kamptee was the town of Nagpur which we remembered from the days when we had been in Agra. Dad used to travel on duty to Nagpur and when it was the orange season, he took up his pastime of buying in bulk. He brought us back huge baskets of big, sweet, juicy Nagpur oranges - to my mind still the best oranges in the world. They have loose skins which peel off with the greatest of ease and look almost identical to "ugli" fruit, but they are much more delicious. In Kamptee, Dad was in charge of the Supply Depot which was quite near the house, and used to ride to work each day on his motor cycle. One day he fell off it and onto his head. He was hospitalised in the military hospital in Jubbalpore. In later years he was always convinced that the fall had been the cause of him becoming diabetic. >> [snip] http://www.indian-tales.com/pages260-269.asp --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

In message <[email protected]> "Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar" <[email protected]> wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chekkutty N.P" Friday, June 04, 2010 > Can anyone explain what exactly these courts were doing and what > were their powers, duties etc in this complex and fledgling legal system > in India in the 1800s? > ================================ > As this query still remains unanswered, I'd like to show these links. > The best way is of course to read a book on Indian Legal History. [snip] Beware of searches on the Web! Many Americans appear to be unaware of India, to them 'Indian' means 'Native American'. -- Dave Barnett

Re Arvind's comments concerning 'mrid-gandha'- (earth smell) It is indeed a very special smell and takes me back to my childhood days in India. It is similar to what John Masefield was trying to convey in his poem-Tewkesbury Road-where he wrote O, to feel the beat of the rain, and the homely smell of the earth, Cheers Des Harris

Dear Listers, In all Indian languages the fragrance associated with the first rain after a long, hot and dry summer is called 'mrid-gandha', literally 'earth-smell'. I have read somewhere that the modern chemistry and the science of fragrances still cannot recreate 'mrid-gandha'. It can be smelt only for a moment or so and vanishes after the ground absorbs the first few drops of water. The famous 4th century classical poet Kalidasa mentions it in his 'Meghdoota' (Cloud Messenger). He says that the deer in the forest feel the approach of the monsoon when they sense this distinct fragrance on the breeze. Arvind Kolhatkar, Toronto, June 07, 2010.

I googled "Petrichor" and found the derivation: >From petros = stone ichor = fluid that flows in the veins of Greek Gods in mythology! Moira Breen ________________________________ From: Desmond Harris <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, June 7, 2010 10:38:23 PM Subject: Re: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] The new word 'Petrichor' Re Arvind's comments concerning 'mrid-gandha'- (earth smell) It is indeed a very special smell and takes me back to my childhood days in India. -------------------------------

As Tagore said, 'The goodly smell of rain on dry ground'. :-) Mandeep Bajwa Sent from my BlackBerry® on Reliance Mobile, India's No. 1 Network. Go for it! -----Original Message----- From: "cabradley" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 15:45:03 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] A new word! Hi Listers! With my NY Times on-line subscription I also get "V", a column devoted to the English language and the delights thereof. It is hosted by Ben Schott who has now added the Oxford Daily Lexeme to his team. And so, courtesy of Lexeme I learned the word Petrichor -- which the inaugural Daily Lexeme describes as: A pleasant, distinctive smell frequently accompanying the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather in certain regions. I was delighted to find that such a word even existed, and sent in a comment to the effect that in India this is the most wonderful and delicious smell on the earth when the monsoons begin in India. Did any of you know of this word? Look it up. It isn't old, either. Cheers, Claire ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

----- Original Message ----- From: "Chekkutty N.P" Friday, June 04, 2010 Can anyone explain what exactly these courts were doing and what were their powers, duties etc in this complex and fledgling legal system in India in the 1800s? ================================ As this query still remains unanswered, I'd like to show these links. The best way is of course to read a book on Indian Legal History. If you don't want to buy a copy, borrow it from some law student. It's part of the curricula for 3-year/5-year LL.B. degree courses. Some online info - 'A Note on the Study of Indian Legal History' by Elizabeth Kolsky = http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/lhr/23.3/kolsky1.html Know the Indian Legal History - in several parts http://realityviews.blogspot.com/search/label/Indian%20Legal%20History Legal history of India http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Legal_history_of_India --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Hi Listers! With my NY Times on-line subscription I also get "V", a column devoted to the English language and the delights thereof. It is hosted by Ben Schott who has now added the Oxford Daily Lexeme to his team. And so, courtesy of Lexeme I learned the word Petrichor -- which the inaugural Daily Lexeme describes as: A pleasant, distinctive smell frequently accompanying the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather in certain regions. I was delighted to find that such a word even existed, and sent in a comment to the effect that in India this is the most wonderful and delicious smell on the earth when the monsoons begin in India. Did any of you know of this word? Look it up. It isn't old, either. Cheers, Claire

Never heard the word, but sure know the scent! Nice to validate it! Patricia Page BC Canada Quoting cabradley <[email protected]>: > > Hi Listers! > > With my NY Times on-line subscription I also get "V", a column devoted to the > English language and the delights thereof. It is hosted by Ben Schott who > has now added the Oxford Daily Lexeme to his team. And so, courtesy of > Lexeme I learned the word Petrichor -- which the inaugural Daily Lexeme > describes as: A pleasant, distinctive smell frequently accompanying the > first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather in certain regions. I > was delighted to find that such a word even existed, and sent in a comment to > the effect that in India this is the most wonderful and delicious smell on > the earth when the monsoons begin in India. > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

----- Original Message From: "sandra carney" Moira, I have always wanted to drive a Jaguar too! >> from Moira Breen: I have always wanted to drive a jaguar! But that is also out of my reach. ======================== Show me someone who wouldn't like to own-drive a Jaguar (or a Rolls or a Bentley) and I'll show you a person with no music in his life. Nor magic. Nor dreams ... Such man is fit only for some Shakespearean tragedy. (grin) As you might know, Jaguar is now owned by India's car giant Tata. Does anybody remember an old advertisement of early 1980s, when it was still British-owned? It showed a school boy standing at the roadside, staring at a Jaguar flashing past. Just two words were printed below the photo: ''Someday'', ''Someday''. It was a nice eloquent piece of art. I found it in a borrowed magazine and liked it so much that I couldn't resist tearing off the page. Hope the owner didn't notice my crime. I still have that page somewhere in my files. I'm now trying to locate that ad on the internet. --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Begin forwarded message: From: Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar <[email protected]> Captain Thomas Waterman's medals auctioned in Marlow Saturday 5th June 2010 By Lawrence Dunhill THE medals of an army officer who overslept and found himself surrounded by 30,000 rebels during the Indian Mutiny were sold at an auction in Marlow. The “fascinating” lot went under the hammer at Bosley's auctioneers on West Street on Wednesday and was sold for £4,400. Captain Thomas Waterman was the last British officer to escape the Lucknow Residency before it was sacked during the 1857 uprising. He awoke two hours after the last of 2,000 Britons, including hundreds of women and children, had abandoned the stronghold after 148 days under siege. The story is detailed in a number of Histories, including Charles Ball’s History of the Indian Mutiny. The 13th Native Infantryman had been wounded in the Siege and having gone to bed late in the evening was forgotten by his men in the moment of departure and over slept himself. He woke to find the place silent and deserted, yet he knew the enemy surrounded the encampment. The only route through which he could escape unseen was the sewers and he made a dash for freedom wading through the slime and was eventually reunited with his company. Waterman was awarded the Punjab Campaign Medal and the Indian Mutiny Medal after the ordeal. These, along with a note explaining the events, were included in the lot. Steven Bosley, the auctioneer, said: “What was so interesting about the lot, apart from the amazing situation he escaped from, is that it is almost certain that the character of Sir Harry Flashman's – the cad in George MacDonald Fraser novels - was based on Waterman.” The siege of Lucknow began in July 1857 after Muslim and Hindu soldiers refused to use cartridges supplied by the army on religious grounds. Rumours had spread that the cartridges were greased with pig and cow fat, which made them offensive to both Muslims and Hindus. Two largescale relief efforts were made during the siege, one of which led to the award of 24 Victoria Crosses in one day. By November the relieving troops made it to the residency and began to evacuate those inside, helping the women and children out first. http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/8203354.indian_mutiny_medal/ http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk

Dear Harsha There were a heck of a lot more than 4, 700 Indians who died in France and Flanders, at Neuve Chapelle, Givenchy and Ginchy... And the bulk of them were in summer (cotton) uniforms. God Bless them (and all the other nationalities), poor boys... Cheers Mukund On 6 June 2010 12:12, Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar <[email protected]>wrote: > Sunday, June 6, 2010 > > Brave sons of India > > There is a lone memorial at Neuve Chapelle in France, > built to honour more than 4,700 Indian soldiers, who > died during World War 1. > > http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100606/spectrum/main3.htm > > > --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

That seems to have been forgotten by the current crop of Canadians ! Never mind their time will come. Mandeep Bajwa Sent from my BlackBerry® on Reliance Mobile, India's No. 1 Network. Go for it! -----Original Message----- From: megan mills <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 11:04:35 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected], [email protected] Subject: Re: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Memorial to 4,700 Indian soldiers with Cdns at two points -- Col McCrae treated many Indian casualties. Megan S. Mills PHD 198 St Helen's Toronto CDA M6H 4A1 > Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 20:18:17 +0530 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Memorial to 4,700 Indian soldiers > > Dear Harsha > > There were a heck of a lot more than 4, 700 Indians who died in France and > Flanders, at Neuve Chapelle, Givenchy and Ginchy... > > And the bulk of them were in summer (cotton) uniforms. > > God Bless them (and all the other nationalities), poor boys... > > Cheers > > Mukund > > On 6 June 2010 12:12, Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar <[email protected]>wrote: > > > Sunday, June 6, 2010 > > > > Brave sons of India > > > > There is a lone memorial at Neuve Chapelle in France, > > built to honour more than 4,700 Indian soldiers, who > > died during World War 1. > > > > http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100606/spectrum/main3.htm > > > > > > --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

A lovely story... If only I had some cash to spare in 1956 at the time of the Suez Crisis I too may enjoyed a Rolls Life! A friend offered me his 1935 model Rolls Royce plus petrol ration tickets for that £100(GBPs) as he was off to live in Canada...Not quite as elegant as M. Lapierres, but desirable too.... Years later another friend bought himself a used Bentley and found that he never had a problem parking as the attendant always found a "good" spot and watched over the car as well If only...{;}}> Peter Rogers. ---------------------------------------------------------- > The Silver Cloud > > ** Lord Mountbatten's first encounter with India in 1921 as a young > ADC to his cousin the Prince of Wales, and what he thought of > the Rolls-Royce cars. ** > > Exclusively written for ''Holland Herald'' by Dominique Lapierre. > > http://holland-herald.com/2010/06/the-silver-cloud/ >

Sunday, June 6, 2010 An outstanding policeman Book Review by Kanwalpreet ''The British, the Bandits and the Bordermen: From the Diaries and Articles of K. F. Rustamji'' Ed. P.V. Rajgopal. Wisdom Tree. Pages 388. Rs 495. THERE are men who work quietly, discharging their duties to the best of their abilities, motivating many around themselves and leaving their impressions on people's minds for a long time. P.V. Rajgopal's book on K.F.Rustamji reflects these traits about the latter. Rajgopal took up this Herculean task to browse through the many diaries (written on a regular basis from November 1938 to December 1970), notes and jottings of Rustamji to come up with this book. He not only brings forth the remarkable career of Rustamji but also takes the reader through the dynamic times of pre- and post-Independence India, strategically important years for the country, its people and the young officer, Rustamji, who set forth on a career. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100606/spectrum/book4.htm --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Sunday, June 6, 2010 Brave sons of India There is a lone memorial at Neuve Chapelle in France, built to honour more than 4,700 Indian soldiers, who died during World War 1. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100606/spectrum/main3.htm --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar