Category Archives: Kashmir

Three Kingfishers

Published / by Jehangir

I have commented earlier on the Rule of Three in the bird life of Kashmir. True to the rule, three species of kingfishers are commonly observed in Kashmir – the pied, common and white-throated kingfishers.

One of life's little joys is sitting on the banks of the Jehlum and watching a family of Pied kingfishers fly past in perfect formation – think of a fly-by of minutiarised Sukhoi fighter-jets on parade.

The White-throated kingfisher lends a dash of colour to the bleak winterscape, while the Common kingfisher is, well, common.

Harud (Autumn) [Photoblog]

Published / by Jehangir

Easy to imagine how the the term 'Aatish-e-Chinar' was coined.

A playing card floats amongst fallen chinar leaves.

The shade of a chinar is a magical place to be in the autumn sunshine.

Saffron blooms in early autumn.

50,000 flowers yield just one pound of saffron.

Jis Khaak Ke Zameer Me Ho Aatish-e-Chinar,
Mumkin Nahi Ki Sard Ho Woh Khaak-e-Arjumand

The Death of English

Published / by Jehangir

In 1846, the British annexed Kashmir and sold it for 75 lakh Nanak Shahi Rupees to Gulab Singh via the Treaty of Amritsar.
Revenge, as they say, is a dish best tasted cold.
A century and a half later, we have been able to extract a measure of revenge. My younger son, Khurram, has been mounting a series of fearless guerilla attacks on the most precious possession of the British – the English language. Khummisms range from 'panograma' (photography) and 'The Devil wears Braga' (movies) to 'printer cartilages' via 'Stratergy' (don't ask!). Khurram unhesitantly invents or twists words when he is in full flow. Homonyms, heteronyms and and other assorted nyms – even words wholly unrelated by sound or meaning – form part of his arsenal. Messrs Wren & Martin must be shaking in their graves.
For all Khurram's enthusiasm, being a mere schoolboy he is no match for the sheer professionalism of our next contender. This gentleman (or a series of assorted brains working together), who wrote to my office last week, has tortured the English language with enthusiasm worthy of the Inquisition. He must unfortunately remain anonymous.


Consider these gems:
'within the basis towards circumstances of periodic presence' (indeed!)
'generous enough with little additional gratifications'
'equally well-regarded with extra regards'
Totally mind-boggling. It reminds me of the letter written by Okhil Chandra Sen to the to the Sahibganj Divisional Railway Office in Bengal in 1909 that is supposed to have led to the introduction of toilets in indian trains:

English R.I.P