‘Punharvi’, a fun mix

I AM a victim of linguistic interference since 2009, when I joined the PGIMS, Rohtak, for pursuing my bachelor’s degree. We have heard of ‘Hinglish’— a blend of Hindi and English; so is ‘Punharvi’ — for me — a fusion of Punjabi and Haryanvi. It was a cultural shock for me because of my ethnicity to Punjab. I had never visited Haryana before 2009.

The allotment of a room in the college hostel helped me observe the new culture and make friends. Being the only one from Punjab, I had no choice but to learn Haryanvi and participate in their talks. In time, cracking jokes in our respective mother tongue started eclipsing our formal talks. Sardars and Haryanvis were a butt of our jokes. Hostelers were not allowed to own bikes in campus, so we would walk to the market nearby, which enriched our friendship. Further, the virtual world did not dominate us then. Within no time, linguistic barriers started to diminish and all could observe my unexpected transformation, and the ease with which I switched from Punjabi to Haryanvi.

Calling someone bawli booch —similar to kamla (stupid) in Punjabi — was relished by me throughout my stay. My eagerness to listen to Punjabi hip-hop songs dissipated every time I travelled in a Haryana Roadways bus, where fellow passengers played ‘ragni’ (a kind of Haryanvi music) on their cell phones. It added new words to my vocabulary. 

A visitor to the state would be tempted to assume that Hindi is the main language, but it isn’t. Haryanvi is an Indo-Aryan language which is native to the regions of Haryana and Delhi. It is written using the Devanagari script. Haryanvi spoken in Rohtak (Rohtaki) is considered the standard form. And for some reason, it sounds really harsh and aggressive. To an outsider, it may appear that people may be close to blows, while it may just be a friendly banter! 

For those seeking jobs and visiting Haryana, some of these sample sentences will surely help your stay! Kadey ja rha hai? (where are you going?); kay kare se?(what are you doing?); kae naam se tera?(what is your name?); aur bahi ke chal rahya se?(...and brother what’s going on?); ke chakker sai susre tera? (what’s your problem, rascal?); kit ka se tu? (where are you from?); jeem liya ke? (have you eaten?); manne tere te kahi na thi (I told you); teri baatt dekhun tha (I was waiting for you); urene aa (come here); ghana matt na bole (don’t speak too much).

It is not only my slant towards Haryanvi that led me to the chronic disease of ‘Punarvi’, but also Haryana’s rich social values and simplicity. It may be the magic of hookah which is found in almost every house, or the outstanding taste of baajre ki roti with ghee and chutney....