Khadi Boli was the language I used in a comment on a YouTube channel.
It read:
“भाई, पर्सनैल्टी डवलप करणी है के? तो टेम क्यूँ खो रा, आजा मेरी वेबसाइट पै … AvdheshTondak.com.”
Within minutes, the channel owner replied. He suggested that if I wanted to promote my website, I should be using decent language and not the kind of language I used. Not only that, but he also offered a bit of unsolicited advice: “Using such indecent words shall give a bad name to your personality and will spoil the goodwill.”
And I wondered what made him take Khadi Boli for indecent language.
Khadi Boli is An “Indecent” Language, Really?
Well, that gentleman is not alone in mistaking the Khadi language for some roadside, downmarket lingo.
Many native Khadi Boli speakers (most college-going young boys and girls) consider their language obscene, rowdy, and uncivilized. And not only that, they are, in fact, ashamed that they belong to a Khadi Boli-speaking region.
And guess what? These same young people do everything to improve their spoken English. They even write comments in broken English on social networking sites and speak clumsy and awkwardly accented English in job interviews, social gatherings, group discussions, etc.
But why do they do that? Because somehow they believe that there’s only one decent language in the world, and that is English. (Are you serious?) 🙄
I don’t know who did it or why and when it happened, but if you’re one such person, let me ask you this to your face:
Why do you undermine everything raw, unrefined, and rustic? In other words, why do you undermine everything authentic? What does decency have to do with language? How come English is a decent language, and Khadi Boli is not?
You see, it’s not the language, but the type of words and tone we use that makes us sound decent or indecent. For instance, isn’t calling someone “Motherfucker” as rude as calling him “मादरचोद,” eh?
Here’s What Happens When You Don’t Embrace Your Own Language
People start intimidating you because you “let” them.
For instance, Punjabis can speak Punjabi, Biharis can freely talk in Bihari, and Bengalis can speak in Bangla. Which is Okay, and not just okay but cool as well. But as soon as I speak Khadi Boli, I turn into an indecent monstrosity. I mean, really?
That bias only shows off your ignorance about Khadi Boli and the role it played in the evolution of modern Hindi. Want to know the truth? Well, it might be hard to digest, but here you go.
Khadi Boli is the BIG MAMMA of Standard Hindi and Urdu
Surprised? Were you assuming that Khadi Boli is an indecent language? Well, sorry to disappoint you.
The truth is that Khadi Boli is the “Gangotri,” the source of today’s standard Hindi and Urdu.
Are Native Khadi Boli Speakers “Victims?”
But I don’t blame that gentleman.
The blame is on us.
By “Us” I mean the people from Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Baraut, Baghpat, Shamli, and Ghaziabad. It’s us, the native speakers, who disown their own damn language. And for me, disowning one’s own language is no less of a crime than disowning one’s own mother. I don’t know what could be more shameful than disrespecting your own language.
This attitude of Khadi Boli speakers gives others a chance to label Khadi Boli “Indecent,” even though they freely use vulgar words (with “Gutkha” still in their mouths).
You know what? I didn’t want to say this but enough is enough:
लोग-बाग अन्ग्रेज्जि मैं Motherfucker, Shit, Crap, Bitch, Fuck बोल्लैं तो वो तो उनका “इस्टाइल ,” अर तम अपणी खड़ी बोल्ली मैं “बाहण का लवड़ा” कह दो तो तम हो ग्ये indecent. के गजब का loggic है भाई थारा भी 🙄
And you know why this happens? Because you let them. You’re not the victim, instead, you are the culprit. So, next time somebody insults your weird diction, don’t be offended.
Why do I say so?
Well, have you noticed how you don’t speak Khadi Boli despite having the opportunity because you fear people would take you for a Ganvār?
Why Are You Afraid of Being Labelled as “Ganvār?” What’s the Big Deal?
What’s wrong with being a Ganvār? The word “Ganvār” refers to a villager—a person belonging to a village, simple.
Agreed, that a Ganvār may not have a refined or sophisticated style of articulating himself, but that doesn’t make him an idiot.
So if you need some encouragement accepting your “Ganvar” side, let me give you some. I am a Ganvār because I was born in a village in Muzaffarnagar, and I am not ashamed of being called one.
Now, I am not suggesting speaking in your mother tongue when you’re required to speak English. No, that’s not what I mean. Doing so will not display your love or pride for your language but rather your arrogance. Silly. Arrogance. And we’re not talking about being rude here.
If you haven’t already, let me encourage you to hold your head high, take pride in who you are, and embrace your language. If someone thinks Khadi Boli is an indecent or disrespectful language, it’s their problem, not yours.
As a native Khadi Boli speaker, I speak the way I am supposed to. It’s my language, and I fucking own it!
Related:
Khadi Boli Shabdkosh: पश्चिमी उत्तर परदेस की धाक्कड बोल्ली के धाक्कड शब्द