http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~jmatthew/articles/reinvetions.html Reinventions of Human Language By Jared Diamond, Natural History Magazine Extract: Neo-Melanesian proved to be as strict as English in its grammatical rules and as capable of expressing complex ideas . Its supple vocabulary is based on a modest number of core words whose meaning varies with context and becomes extended metaphorically. As an illustration, consider the derivation of banis bilong susu as the Neo-Melanesian words for “bra”. Banis, meaning “fence” comes from that English word as spoken by New Guineans who have difficulty pronouncing our consonants f and our double consonants like nc. Susu, taken over from Malay as the word for “milk”, is extended to mean “breast,” as well. That sense, in turn, provides the expressions for “nipple” (ai [eye] bilong susu), “prepubertal girl” (i no gat susu bilong susu em), “adolescent girl” (susu iI sanap [stand up], and “aging woman” (susu i pundaun pinis [fall down finish]). Combining these two roots, banis bilong susu denotes a bra as “the fence to keep the breast in”, just as banis pik denotes pigpen as the fence to keep pigs in. .... In my culture "susu" is also the word for breast/milk, but I've never heard any word for brassiere maybe because the women never had need for one before the 1900s or colonization. I'd just dropped my grandmother at the airport on her way to Hilo for three weeks and when she gets back I'll be sure to ask. GRIN --Manaia ++++ --- On Wed, 9/3/08, John Feltham <wulguru.wantok@gmail.com> wrote: [snip] > In Papua New Guinea the word for a women's > 'bra' is "banis bilong susu". > > How did they arrive at this? [snip]

The map and old photographs certainly brought back many memories. One which caught my eye was Belvedere because 65 years ago a group of us went to a place exactly like this to picnic or swim. Just before we left we girls paid a visit to the ladies room. This room was in the cellar which is visible in the photograph, just at the side of the main stairway. I was the last and still in the Ladies room when suddenly a lady glided past me. She wore a long dress with a very small bustle under a very full skirt. She glided round the corner and I quickly followed to see who she was but there was no one there. Then I felt a cold shiver. I grabbed my bag and ran out The house in the photographs is the same but I seem to remember the place was in Barrackpore. My question is, does anyone know if there was a similar house with a swimming pool in Barrackpore. I may have the wrong name of the place,. it was so long ago. Perhaps it could have been Belvedere. Another question is does Belvedere have a swimming Pool. Joyce Munro -----Original Message----- >From On Behalf Of Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar IF, by chance, some of you are not aware that the Imperial gazetteer of India, [1907 - 1909], contains several grand old photos of Calcutta (in the chapter on that city), here is the link to view them online: http://www.payer.de/quellenkunde/quellen1603.htm

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This is a common problem. I know someone who downloaded an email purporting to come from Microsoft, which totally locked up his computer. There is currently a big upgrade to Vista called SP1, but upgrades should only be acquired from Microsoft through the toolbar icon at the bottom of the screen, or through the 'Start' button, lower left Chris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Arvind Kolhatkar" <akolhatkar@rogers.com> To: <india-british-raj@rootsweb.com>; <india@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:20 PM Subject: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Alert-use of Microsoft name > Dear Listers, > > I received a message purporting to be from the Microsoft Corporation and > offering to upgrade my official copy of Windows XP/Vista and providing a > link for it. The language was exactly what it would be in a genuine > communication. However, my antivirus software alerted me that the message > contained a threat and I deleted the message. > > This is for your info should you receive such a mail. > > Arvind Kolhatkar, Toronto, August 31, 2008 > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

August 22nd, 2008 Over the past few weeks you may have noticed a few glitches while you were searching and browsing the site. The main reason for the interruptions is the addition of 18 new servers - yes 18! We are about three quarters of the way through the move so you will likely notice a few delays over the next coming weeks. As we work on more major areas we will post notices up on the Help page. We appreciate your patience and support as we continue to move data to the new servers. http://blogs.rootsweb.ancestry.com/newsroom/ --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

The Khaki Cloth - Mangaloreans' Gift to the World October 21, 2007 There is an interesting reference to the birth of Khaki. Sir Henry Lumsden, who was stationed in India in 1846, dyed his cotton pajamas with a plant extract, mazari, to create a uniform more suitable to the climate than the traditional red felt issued at the time. Its tawny colour, similar to the region's saffron dust, helped the clothing to blend in with sand. The term 'Khaki' comes from the Hindi and Urdu word for 'earth' or 'dust-coloured'. Lumsden commanded a British army unit in the Punjab. The uniform at that time included resplendent white trousers worn with red tunics. He began wearing pajama bottoms, primarily to find a more comfortable alternative to the trousers in the tropical Punjab heat. The pajamas were of a lighter material and less tightly fitted. To disguise them somewhat, he decided to colour them with a dye that would blend in with the local terrain. He decided to use mazari, a native plant. Lumsden soon realized that his new uniform has another advantage than just comfort. His new Khaki uniform trousers were more suitable in battle than the very conspicuous white pants and red tunic. There were real advantages to being able to blend in with the terrain. John Haller, a trained European weaver, introduced in 1851 the first handloom with fly shelter cottage industry in Mangalore. He also invented new dyes and colour out of indigenous ingredients. The invention of Khaki dye is attributed to him. (Snip) http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=692 --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Bust of Sikh King up for auction Tuesday, 02 September 2008 A previously unknown marble bust of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh will soon be on the auctioneers block in London. This stunning piece crafted in Europe in the 19th century is expected to reach $100-140,000 and is redolent of the Duleep Singh sculpture by Royal Academician John Gibson (1790-1866) that fetched a staggering £1.7m in 2006. [snip] http://www.punjabheritage.org/material-heritage/forgotten-bust-of-sikh-king-on-the-block-1404.html --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

----- Original Message ----- From: "Arvind Kolhatkar" Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 10:50 PM Subject: [INDIA] Alert-use of Microsoft name =============================================== Er, ahem ... attention, please. This is my first attempt to look and act like the awesome List Administrator. :-) While we thank Arvind for this info, might I once again urge you all to read the small print in the ''Welcome Message'' that I'd posted some days ago? (A copy must have reached you as soon as you were enrolled as a member of this list.) NO virus or hoax alerts should be sent to the list directly. They can cause panic reaction. If you have to share this type of information, kindly contact the Admin off-list. Thanks and regards, --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar India-British-Raj List Administrator

I have a doubt that I hope some kind person on the list can clarify. I have to address an e-mail to a person in India whose name is written as Mr. Shital K Vij Now, is the family name Shital or Vij? I.e. Should it be "Dear Mr. Shital" or "Dear Mr. Vij"? What is the usual custom in India: family name first and given name second - or viceversa ? I have this doubt because the company name is Shital and it is in first place in the owners name. However I have friends in India whose family name is given last and I had always presumed that this was the norm. Thank you in advance for your input Regards Denise Hughes-Weston

Please find below the latest press release regarding the 300th Anniversary celebrations in Kolkata in November. Armenian Churches in India 300th Anniversary Celebrations 8-16 November 2008 We are pleased to announce that preparations continue for the organising of the forthcoming celebrations of the 300th Anniversary of the Armenian Church in Kolkata. Please find below the finalised programme of events. Saturday 8th November Guests invited to the re-consecration at Chennai, should arrive today. Sunday 9th November Re-consecration of the Armenian Church at Chennai will be conducted by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians. Monday 10th November Guests invited for the celebrations should arrive in Kolkata by today. In the evening there will be a welcome Hrashapar service starting the celebration the 300th anniversary at the Holy Nazareth Church. Tuesday 11th November Opening ceremony of the newly constructed Tangra Community Welcome ceremony of the 300th anniversary celebration Guests will return to Kolkata via St. Gregory's so that they can see that church as well. Wednesday 12th November Guests will attend a seminar at Tangra. Guests will be transported back to Kolkata. Casual evening function Thursday 13thth November All guests will visit the Armenian College today. The school will put on a show/exhibition for visitors and guests will be able to tour the school buildings and see how the renovation programme is progressing. There will also be the ground breaking ceremony for the new sports complex. Friday 14th November All guests will visit Saidabad today. This is a long journey of 5 (five) hours each way. Return late evening to Kolkata. Saturday 15th November All guests to visit Chinsurah and Bandel churches. Formal banquet in the evening. Sunday 16th November 10.00 Pontifical Mass at the Holy Nazareth Church will bring the celebrations to a close. Now that the programme is finalized, it would be greatly appreciated and extremely helpful, if anyone with a serious intention of coming to Kolkata to share this experience with us and participate, could let us know as soon as possible so that we can have an idea of numbers, both at the Chennai service and then the various events in Kolkata We have made arrangements with some local hotels for discounted room rates. To take advantage of these, as they are offered on a first come first serve basis, please get in touch at the earliest. Lastly, if you have any old photographs or memorabilia relating to the Armenians in India we would very much like you to bring them along. With your permission, we would like to photograph or scan the items and see if we can put together a book containing all such historical memorabilia supplied and send out as a commemoration book after the celebrations are over. If you need any further advice regarding your travel or accommodation, do not hesitate to contact the Church office <mailto:office@armenianchurch.in> office@armenianchurch.in or either of our two co-ordinators, Helena Cray ram0414@msn.com. for US based people and Liz Chater <mailto:liz@chater-genealogy.com> liz@chater-genealogy.com for the UK and other locations. We are all very excited about this wonderful historic occasion and do hope that we will see as many of you in Kolkata as possible. Armenian Church Kolkata 2nd September 2008 Liz Chater Researching Chater or Armenians in India and Hong Kong in 2008? Please go to <http://www.chater-genealogy.com/> www.chater-genealogy.com.

Does anyone have access to volume 23 of Bengal Past and Present? Pages 154-170 are apparently transcripts of the Roman Catholic Church Registers from Serampore. (The reference I found in an index to BP&P). Although both Sydney University library and the National Library of Australia hold Bengal Past and Present, neither of them seem to have them for the early 1920s which is when I think Vol.XXIII (23) was issued. Many of the early issues of BP&P are very fragile due to the quality of the paper which was used. I believe that a ?Dutch company filmed all volumes and they are now available on a very expensive set of microfiche which are not available in Australia (at least not listed on our Libraries Australia catalogue). Is anyone able to help? Sylvia PO Box 2379 Carlingford Court, NSW 2118 email: sylcec@ihug.com.au mob: 0430 011 855

Any book by Charles Allen is a tempting read.I'd certainly like to acquire a copy. Nowadays with the Net and credit cards it is so easy to do so. Mandeep On Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 9:06 AM, Karoo <karoo@highway1.com.au> wrote: > I love Charles Allen's easy to read books and his understanding of the > subject below, is bound to appeal - to me . > The book title sounds tantalising ! > > Thanks for alerting us John > > Wishes > > Sally > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John Feltham" <wulguru.wantok@gmail.com> > > > G'day folks > > > > > > A book by Charles Allen, > > You might like to know that Kipling Sahib: India and the Making of > > Rudyard Kipling 1865-1900 will be released on 4 September 2008. > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

NATMO's Attempts to Map Calcutta Getting smarter with smart maps Dr. P. Nag Director, National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. The origin of modern cartography in India lies in the city of Calcutta. The two major cartographic institutions of the country, viz. Survey of India and the National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO),were established in this city. However, it did not receive much attention of cartographers. The earlier attempts are as follows: 1 Plan of Calcutta, 1784/85 by Lt. Col. Mark Wood 2 Map of Calcutta and its Environs, 1792/ 3 by A. Upjohn 3 Maps of the Suburbs of Calcutta, 1817 by Steepleton 4 Plan of the city of Calcutta and its Environs, 1828-32 by I. P. Schalch and Capt. T. Princep (Lottery Committee. 5 Portion of Topographical Survey of River Hooghly from Bandel to Garden Reach, 1841 by Charles Joseph 6 The City and Environs of Calcutta, 1852-58 by P.W. Simmis 7 Maps of Calcutta showing the latest Im provements, 1856 by W. Heysham 8 Calcutta,1931 in Imperial Gazetteer of India 9 Environs of Calcutta, 1931 in Imperial Gazetteer of India 10 Smart Maps, 1903-10 in 856 sheets. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/technology/carto/techca0011.htm --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

www.kolkataporttrust.gov.in/kopt_lecture2005.pdf --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Is it only me, or is everybody getting mails from our list with some delay? I found the following in my mailbox today. ----->> From: "Sylvia Murphy" Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 Re:Cartographer's Calcutta *Fantastic! When can I get a copy? ;-) * Well, Sylvia, I don't know ... But in the meantime, we can enjoy this write-up: *** MAPS AND MUGSHOTS - How visual aids became an essential tool of imperial control *** by Malavika Karlekar Sunday, October 28, 2007 http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071028/asp/opinion/story_8476638.asp --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Dear Listers, I have unsubscribed and subscribed back into the List as I was encountering some difficulty in sending my postings. This is a test message to find if the solution has worked. Arvind Kohatkar, Toronto, September 02, 2008.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Hook > Officer who won an MC during the Burma campaign, guarded Gandhi and took > part in the Monte Carlo Rally > > > > The Telegraph.co.uk > > Hook: while at Kohima, his troops woke covered with blood > Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Hook, who has died aged 93, won a Military > Cross in the Burma campaign in testing circumstances while commanding a > squadron of reconnaissance troops. > > In March 1944 Hook, commanding C Squadron 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment > Royal Armoured Corps (2RR), was ordered to move his force from its base in > Poona and rejoin the regiment which was already in action at Kohima. > > They set off in convoy on a journey of 2,000 miles. It was like driving in > a permanent dust storm, Hook said afterwards. The Japanese had surrounded > Kohima, the whole area was crawling with enemy troops and, before the > beleaguered garrison could be relieved, the stranglehold had to be broken. > > The days were hot and sticky with, it seemed, every type of insect seeking > its quota of human blood. The nights were cold. Giant frogs croaked, > hyenas howled and the Japanese patrols tried to unnerve the sentries with > their cackle of "Johnny Ha, Ha, Ha" which echoed through the valleys. > > Hook reorganised his unit from an armoured car establishment to a recce > force on foot. There was no front line. The Japanese were on all sides of > him. It was like sitting on a hornets' nest. > > His squadron was in continual contact and the fighting was ferocious. A > young doctor who was replacing a colleague who had been killed was ferried > to a clearing in the jungle and told: "Your regiment is just up there. Run > like hell. Zig-zag all the way. Stop and you're a dead man." > > When the monsoon broke, dried-up river beds became torrents. Hook's recce > troops slipped and slithered on the rain-sodden slopes and their boots > turned green with mildew. > > At night leeches dropped from the trees while the exhausted men slept. In > the morning, they awoke covered in blood. "It was like a knacker's yard," > Hook said. "For a moment, I thought the Japs had crept in and slit > everybody's throats." > > C Squadron was ordered to protect 2nd Infantry Division's right flank by > reconnoitring and securing Pulebadze, a jungle-covered ridge 7,500 ft > above sea level. A section of mules and 18 Naga tribesmen helped carry the > equipment. Each plateau on the climb was pitted with foxholes and the > Japanese were expert at crouching down in the bottom and popping up behind > Hook's men as soon as they had passed. > > The squadron rejoined 2RR after 19 days occupying the area. A hot bath in > a cut-off 50-gallon oil drum seemed like luxury after weeks of being > rationed to half a pint of water a day. After the relief of Kohima, C > Squadron was involved in several fierce engagements in the break-out and > advance to relieve Imphal. > > Kenneth George Hook was born at Barian, India, on June 16 1915. After > reading Architecture at Birkbeck College, London University, he was > commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served with 1st > Battalion in France as part of the BEF. > > Following the withdrawal from Dunkirk he was transferred to 2RR and > commanded C Squadron in India. In 1943 one of his tasks was to guard > Mahatma Gandhi in his country house in the west of the country. > > After the relief of Kohima and Imphal, British forces went on the > offensive and Hook's squadron, with infantry, artillery and sappers under > his command, grew to the size of a battalion. > > In the push southwards, he was given the task of flank protection and, by > bold use of small patrols over great distances, he deployed his force over > a wide front. He was awarded his MC in 1946 and was mentioned in > dispatches in the same year, the citations paying tribute to his > inspirational leadership. > > 2RR was disbanded after the war and Hook transferred to the Inns of Court > Yeomanry and subsequently to the 12th Royal Lancers (12RL) and served in > BAOR and Yorkshire. A posting to 67th Training Regiment RAC as chief > instructor was followed by a return to BAOR as GSO2 (Air). He then > rejoined 12RL to take command of a squadron. > > In 1958 Hook was appointed College Commander at the Royal Military College > of Science, Shrivenham. While he was chief instructor at the Army MT > School, he captained the Army motor rally team and took part in many of > the major events, including the Monte Carlo Rally. > > After an appointment as commandant of the Army Ranges at Castlemartin, > Pembrokeshire, he taught at the RAC Centre, Bovington, before retiring > from the Army in 1967 in the rank of lieutenant-colonel. > > Hook was a personnel officer at the Sussex Police HQ before finally > retiring, in 1982, to a village in Sussex, where he enjoyed gardening and > was involved in voluntary work for the PDSA. > > Kenneth Hook died on July 10. He married, in 1940, Monica Howard-Luck, who > predeceased him. He is survived by their two sons and a step-son. > > > >

> > Keep GMT all year > > Move to Queensland. > - and in a whisper so John doesn't hear .... They can't introduce daylight saving in Queensland because the curtains fade and the cow's go off their milk production because of the extra hour of sunlight! Sylvia Sorry Harshoo - off topic I know, but it had to be said!! ;-)

It should apply to those of European descent also I think. Mandeep On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 2:20 PM, Dave Barnett <genealogy@davebarnett.me.uk>wrote: > In a recent message "Vanya Orr" <orrvanya@gmail.com> wrote: > > > This might be of interest to other people' with Indian roots.. If you > > grandparents or great grand parents were born in India and you can get > all > > thebirth certificates & other documents needed, You can get a card which > > confers almost Indian status. You dont need to apply all the time for a > visa > > & there are business benefits as well. But you have to satisfy the > > criteria. Vanya > > > 2008/8/26 Sylvia Murphy <sylcec@ihug.com.au> > > Would this also apply to those of european descent? My wife has at > least two generations of direct ancestry who were born in India. > > I can also trace a related line back to John Zephania HOLWELL of > 'Black Hole' infamy. > > -- > Dave > Keep GMT all year > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Contributors to the List who expressed interest in Adelaide's British India restaurant may be interested to know that it received a rather favourable review in the Travel section of this Saturday's Weekend Australian. Cheers Chris Ring Townsville