Words, some drag us real low

Ratna Raman

WORDS that ‘denote’ have a singular meaning. Take ‘chowk’, for instance. It refers to a square in outline. Loyalist sentiment was responsible for the rechristening of Connaught Place’s circular inner and outer roads as Rajiv Chowk and Indira Chowk, respectively. Despite the emotive appeal of Ms Gandhi cradling her son in her arms posthumously, the change from circle to chowk was inappropriate because geometrically a chowk implies a square and no stretch of imagination can transform it into a circle. Posterity (future generations) will perceive Indians as being geometrically challenged. 

 The good thing about language is its ability to connote. Or provide multiple meanings. Take neech. When we were little oonch-neech was a favourite outdoor game. Any play area with high and low surfaces provided endless happy hours. Neech  (colloquial of neechay (down)  describes  everything at ground level  while oonch refers to elevation. 

The main player began this game by choosing a surface while the rest of us scuttled to the opposite surface to be safe. Much teasing would follow and whoever was caught first would start the game all over again. When it became dark, we went home, took stock of success and failure and recovered over dinner. Oonch neech ka paapda is the name of this game that children continue to play. 

Neech refers not only to a low surface, but can be used to speak of despicable behaviour. Bad behaviour qualifies as neech harkat, which can be undertaken by anyone. In fact, abuse of authority, immorality or misuse of one’s position is a neech karya (despicable act) and depicts  meanness (neechta, noun) of spirit. 

However, when placed alongside jaati (caste), neech becomes a slur (implying low caste). It has been used to whip up sentiment in the Gujarat election. 

Language is a flexible medium and lends itself to all kinds of word-play.   Twisting meanings to one’s advantage also forms part of the dynamics of language use.

The English language press has reported the skirmish between opposing political camps in detail. While insult and exaggeration might be an aspect of hectic verbal campaigning, how should we view ‘the playing of the victim card’ by the highest in the land? The attempt to gain sympathy by misrepresenting facts is evidence of low cunning (neechta purna).

 The free press and news channels have not covered themselves with glory by paying little attention to the video of the bloody killing and accompanying vitriolic speech that has gone viral. A fellow human was butchered and this recorded act provided evidence of the most terrible (neechta poorvak) deed a human is capable of. Undivided, nationwide attention was paid to word-play during the election campaign by the media. Collective outrage over this heinous criminal act that froze the blood and the spirit was placed ‘on the back burner’(low priority).

Yes, words must be weighed carefully, but maintaining silence in the face of repeatedly perpetuated horrors makes us the most neech of them all.