Saturday, July 8, 2000 |
|
![]() |
THE dictionary defines baboo or babu as an Indian official who has a superficial knowledge of English, so any English written by me and my clan in the office is Babu English. After all we cannot write literature on the pages of files quoting Shakespeare and Sartre. We quote F.R. (Financial Rules) and S.R. (Service Rules). The problem arises when Babu English becomes our second habit. During one of my sub-divisional transfers, I found that an important file was untraceable. I sent a note to the head clerk to locate the file immediately and inform me about it. After about twenty minutes, the note came back to me with a scribble, "Honble Sir, With reference to your instructions dated today, I had the honour of a search and then research and research. I have the pleasure to inform you that the file is not to be seen in the office. Most respected Sir, if it is not big talk from a small mouth, kindly permit this humble servant of yours to research your table also. With kindest regards." I was immediately reminded of an article in an issue of Frasers Magazine of 1873 using the adjectives pliable, plastic, receptive for Babus who had the servile wish to please the Sahib log. |
![]() But why target the babus only? Promila Condillac who runs a school in Shimla told me that during her B.Ed course, a teacher while taking a class on Elements of Story Writing said: "A story should have a good beginning and a better ending. The two should be distant apart. Remember students, if ending is discovered near the beginning, the suspension in the story is undone." Oh, what a relief ! |