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Khalsa bole

Khalsa bole (Gurmukhi: ਖ਼ਾਲਸਈ ਬੋਲੇ or ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਬੋਲੀ; Ḵẖālasa'ī bōlē, Ḵẖālasā bōlī; meaning "words of Khalsa"; alternatively transcribed as Khalsa boli) is a bravado-based language variety developed and spoken by members of the Akali-Nihang sect of Sikhism.[8] It has also been described as a coded language.[9]

Khalsa bole
Gar Gaj Bole, Nihang Singh de Bole, Khalsa de bole
ਖ਼ਾਲਸਈ ਬੋਲੇ, ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਬੋਲੀ, ਗੜਗੱਜ ਬੋਲੇ
PronunciationḴẖālasa'ī bōlē, Ḵẖālasā bōlī
Era17th or early 18th century to present
Early forms
Gurmukhi
SourcesPunjabi and its dialects (mostly), Old Hindi, Persian
Language codes
ISO 639-3–

Names

Other common names for the lect are Gar Gaj Bole (ਗੜਗੱਜ ਬੋਲੇ; meaning "words that thunder"), Nihang Singh de Bole ("words of the Nihang Sikhs"), Nihang Bola ("Nihang speak"), and Khalsa de bole ("words of the Khalsa").[10][11]

Purpose

The dialect encompasses the Sikh philosophical concept of remaining ever optimistic, known as Chardi kala.[12] The unique dialect serves martial and mental objectives, such as helping the speaker and listeners remain in high-spirits in the face of adversity.[13][14] It serves as a verbal act of dissent in the face of troubling circumstances.[11]

"There is a great degree of general Sikh ambivalence towards the Nihangs and their deras. There is no real knowledge but through the construction of the Sikh past by ragis and dhadis and others involved in the invention of Sikh tradition, they seem to have made sacrifices for the faith and qaum. One possible consequence of their relative isolation could be the development of coded language. Sekhon (1997: 229) attributes these different meanings of the words as metaphors of optimism and belief in the inevitable achievement of the goal: 'Taking a meal of parched gram of necessity a Nihang would describe himself as eating almonds. Even now onions for Nihangs are silver pieces, rupees on the other hand mere pebbles, and a club the repository of wisdom.’ "

— Pashaura Singh, Louis E. Fenech, The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies (2014), page 380

History

Origin

Some claim it was invented by Banda Singh Bahadur, the early 18th century Sikh general and martyr.[10]: 120  Sikh scholar, Piara Singh Padam, claims it originated earlier in the 17th century, during the time of the Sikh Gurus.[15] The dialect developed during the period of intense persecution of the Sikhs by the Mughal and Durrani empires in the 18th century.[16] During that period, Sikhs vacated for the mountains, jungles, and deserts to escape the genocidal policies enacted against them.[16]

"Guru Gobind Singh would rename some of the smaller or weaker Singhs in the ranks of the Khalsa Army. He would bestow them with lofty titles such as ‘Dharti-Hallaa Singh' (literally, the Earth-shaker). This would not only send fear and doubt deep within the ranks of the enemy soldiers, but encouraged the Singhs in the Khalsa Army to fight heroically with courage and confidence and honour the names given to them by the Guru."

— Nihang Darshan Singh, audio recording, July 2006[17]

Present-day

The dialect is still used by some modern Sikhs, especially the Akali-Nihangs.[18] Many modern Nihangs are ridiculed for using their dialect.[11] They are often the target for jokes by outsiders.[11]

Linguistic sources

Khalsa bole sources its vocabulary from "a mixture of Punjabi, Old Hindi, Persian and other dialects used in various regions of India".[19][13]

List of vocabulary examples

Khalsa bole words and phrases with figurative and literal meanings
No.Word or phraseFigurative meaningLiteral meaningReference(s)
1.akāl danwooden clubdispenser of wisdom[10]: 120 
2.quilla dhanaurination or defecationcollapse/conquer a fort, Chittor or Multan[8][18]
3.Nihal KaurblanketSikh woman's name, meaning "content princess"[13]
4.larkigreen chilliesgirl[13]
5.rupaonionbeautiful, beauty, silver pieces[13][9][20]
6.dhid phookni, tid fookniteastomach burner[13][20]
7.thokhay baj(spoon) of sugar[13]
8.akaash parigoatsky fairy[13]
9.larraakirefers to an individual with a martial spiritred chillies[13]
10.akkar-bhanfever[13]
11.sukhaCannabis concocted beverage (bhang), tranquilizerpeace of mind, happiness, pleasurable[13][20]
12.araakishorses[13]
13.thanedaardonkeystation house officer[13]
14.Qazi, Kajicockerel[note 1]judge in the field of Islamic jurisprudence[13][20]
15.chhauniundergarments (kacchera)encampment[13]
16.aflatoonquiltbraggart, bragger, boaster[13]
17.aandeypotatoeseggs[13]
18.aring baringlying downwrestling[13][20]
19.Basant Kaurcorncombination of Basant (Spring festival) + Kaur (princess) meaning "spring princess"[13][20]
20.billaEnglishmantomcat[13][20]
21.bhuchangerchildrensnake[13]
22.chugalmirrorback-biter, tattler[13][20]
23.DClimper[13][20]
24.dhullaymeat[13][20]
25.gobindaywatermelon[13][20]
26.gobindyiacarrots[13][20]
27.jahajcartship[13][20]
29.sarb rassaltessence of life[13][20]
30.siropabeatingrobe of honour[13][20]
31.tehsildarintelligenttax official of a tehsil (administrative unit)[13][20]
32.Teja SinghtrainSikh man's name, meaning Fast[21] Lion[13]
33.athak savārīpair of shoestireless mount[10]: 120 
34.charāī karnāto dieto invade, charge or set out on an expedition[10]: 120 [22]
35.lakh netarāblind in one eyeone with 100,000 eyes[10]: 120 
36.mast, mastanaempty of personal suppliesin a state of ecstasy, carefree[10]: 120 [20]
37.savā lakhapproach of one Nihang Sikh125,000-strong army[11][10]: 120 [18][22]
38.eating almondseating parched gram[9]
39.rupeepebblesrupee currency[9]
40.a quarrelsome womanred chilli[16]
41.garamjalbeverage concoction made

of cannabis and hot water

hot water[16]
42.smokingkissing a female donkey[16]
43.goleemedicinal pill, tablet, or capsulebullet[23][24]
44.veerbrotherbrave[15]
45.faujoneselfarmy[15]
46.mithe parshadold bread, leftover roti or chapati more than a day-oldsweet and blessed bread or sacrament[15][20]
47.tar pulawdry mealaromatic gravied rice[15]
48.langar mastnothing to eat, hungerhappy time, intoxication[15][22]
49.chhapa maarnashowing up spontaneously to the homes of friends or relativesguerilla ambush, surprise attack[15]
50.Dharamraj di dhee di sewabeing illbeing cared for by the angel of death's daughter[15]
51.jān bhaipersonal horsedearest brother, blood brother[15][20]
52.Pathan siracauliflowerPashtun head[note 2][15][20]
53.chhiladmoneytree bark[15]
54.silkJute (bast fibre)[15]
55.budhiyeyoung ladyold lady[15]
56.panjwanclarified butter, ghee[15]
57.chaiwancooking oil[15]
58.chupsugarsilence[20]
59.choonaflourlime-stone powder[20]
60.panj ratneewine, alcoholfive jewelled[15]
61.titarikarela (bitter melon or bitter gourd)[15]
62.karadheeradish[15]
63.gardayrice[20]
64.samudarmilkocean[13][20]
65.kastoorapigmusk[20]
66.kesarturmericsaffron[20]
67.badamgroundnuts, chickpeas, gramsalmonds[20]
68.aaracaahorse[15]
69.harnilouse, lice[15]
70.baajiron rodhawk, falcon[15]
71.bhuchangee, bhuhhangisonsnake[20]
72.aakarhpunfever or bodily illnessarrogance[20]
73.miserable ponyArab or Iraqi steed[22]
74.batairon bowl[20]
75.birajkayseatedholding court[20]
76.gurhjaggery (unrefined cane sugar)[20]
77.heeraywhite hairsdiamonds[25]
78.hullahurryblast of eastern winds[20]
79.jhatangagoat[20]
80.kulgabaldy (bald person)[20]
81.larakichilli, spiceshrew[20]
82.mamlamoneyrevenue[20]
83.morchaendeavourfront line[20]
84.parsramaxe[20]
85.patwaricattax-collector/village accountant[20]
86.bhootnirail locomotivefemale ghost[20]
87.subhedarsweepergovernor/warrant officer[20]
88.theekarbodyshell[20]
89.dhokhay baajspoonimposter[20]
90.vaheermobile[20]
91.ghorrheyjutti shoeshorses[20]
92.shaheedi maarpunishment to the guiltya martyr's beating[20]
93.sawaayaaA littleone and a quarter[20]
94.haraa pallaagrassgreen rice[20]
95.sheesh mahalshantypalace of mirrors[20]
96.swaragcalamityheaven[20]
97.hazaar mekheeworn-out scarf[20]
98.gurmukhi parshadcoarse grainblessed sacrament from the mouth of the Guru[20]
99.dabrroo ghusroohindividual lacking in Sikh conduct[20]
100.sleepingdaughter of the angel of death[20]
101.blind manwide-awake hero[26]
102.half-blind manargus-eyed lion[26]
103.deaf manman in the upper storey[26]
104.baptised Sikhbrother of the golden cup (actually an iron vessel)[26]
105.to be fined by the community for a faultgetting one's salary[26]
106.big sticklawyer[26]
107.to speakroar[26]

See also

Further reading

  • Padam, Piara Singh (1985). Khalsa Bole ਖਾਲਸਈ ਬੋਲੇ [Khalsa language] (PDF) (in Punjabi).
  • Bedi, Daljit Singh. Nihang Singha De Khalsai Gadgaj Bole ਨਿਹੰਗ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦੇ ਖਾਲਸਾਈ ਗੜਗੱਜ ਬੋਲੇ [The Khalsa of the Nihang Singhs roared] (in Punjabi).
  • Singh, Teja (1929). Humour in Sikhism (PDF) (2nd ed.). Amritsar: The Star Book Depot.

Notes

References

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