Some stories are the same in any language.
Her confusion was obvious, her interest more so. "My family are strict Brahmin" he explained, "And when I chose the army, my father himself broke my sacred thread and disowned me. To them I am dead."
"You? You are laawaaris?" she asked.
"Some say laawaaris, some even dalit." he replied, "I say I am Indian."
Notes:
Mein usko maraa hua: "to them I am dead"
Dalit: Essentially "untouchable". One who is of the lowest caste, or lives outside the caste structure altogether. The term is one applied by the subgroup itself and refers to a wide cross section of disenfranchised people who may be segregated and at times persecuted or discriminated against because of their occupation or social class. The term later came to be more broadly applied to all "oppressed peoples" including peasants, landless workers and women. The name is taken from the Hindi root word dal meaning "suppressed" or "held in check".
Laawaaris: One disowned by his family. Brahmins were/are teachers and priests. Warriors and kings fell into the Kshatriya caste. Thus a very strict Brahmin family might well have considered a career in the military unsuitable, possibly even to the point of disowning a son who chose it. However common or uncommon this extreme reaction would have been is open to question as Brahmins and Kshatriyas both occupy the higher rungs on the ladder.
Previously
Chapter 1: Vandhe Mataram!
Chapter 2: Aag Lagi
Chapter 3: Aur Nahin
Chapter 4: Bannaa
Chapter 5: Inteqam
Chapter 6: Azaadi
Chapter 7: Vah Khallas Hai
Chapter 8: Ek Nai Shuruat
Chapter 9: Do Sal Paheli
Chapter 10: Yaadein (I)
Chapter 11: Yaadein (II)
Chapter 12: Yaadein (III)
Chapter 13: Paheli Baar
Chapter 14: Akelee
Chapter 15: Pinjraa
Chapter 16: Nishaan
Chapter 17: Qismat
Chapter 2: Aag Lagi
Chapter 3: Aur Nahin
Chapter 4: Bannaa
Chapter 5: Inteqam
Chapter 6: Azaadi
Chapter 7: Vah Khallas Hai
Chapter 8: Ek Nai Shuruat
Chapter 9: Do Sal Paheli
Chapter 10: Yaadein (I)
Chapter 11: Yaadein (II)
Chapter 12: Yaadein (III)
Chapter 13: Paheli Baar
Chapter 14: Akelee
Chapter 15: Pinjraa
Chapter 16: Nishaan
Chapter 17: Qismat
Chapter 18: Nafrat
Chapter 19: Dard
Chapter 20: Mutthee
Chapter 21: Apmaan
Chapter 22: Andheraa
Chapter 23: Indhan
Chapter 24: Das phere
Chapter 25: Golaa pooraa huaa
Chapter 26: Nikalnaa
Chapter 27: Raastaa
Chapter 28: Pahraa
Chapter 29: Chetaavnee
Chapter 30: Amritsar
Chapter 31: Bhaiaa Vaadaa
Chapter 32: Anaamika
Chapter 33: Arjun
Chapter 34: Rishtedaar
Chapter 19: Dard
Chapter 20: Mutthee
Chapter 21: Apmaan
Chapter 22: Andheraa
Chapter 23: Indhan
Chapter 24: Das phere
Chapter 25: Golaa pooraa huaa
Chapter 26: Nikalnaa
Chapter 27: Raastaa
Chapter 28: Pahraa
Chapter 29: Chetaavnee
Chapter 30: Amritsar
Chapter 31: Bhaiaa Vaadaa
Chapter 32: Anaamika
Chapter 33: Arjun
Chapter 34: Rishtedaar
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11 comments:
Laawaaris means Orphan generally. This story is probably pretty old! Now a days, any Indian will be proud to be in the Arm forces, thing of pride. After all the wars and attacks, we surely respect what they do for the country! :)
You are right. Dalit has become (politically correct) "oppressed" now. But a proud Brahman NEVER calls himself a dalit, even if he is disowned by his family (if Dalit is meant as "untouchable" to him).
We do have have many "dalit" senators/ministers in the Govt now, they are a powerful force but don't know whether they help their own people once they get the status! :P
Love your 55
Every week I learn something about India and the language.
My 55 is posted.
I like that you have them talking, him telling her about himself. Interesting possibilities. Cool thing about your 55 is that there is not enough story to really guess where you're headed with this, gotta wait on you! :))
You get the feel of the culture in your 55. Nicely done.
Us dragons never been to India.
were in Indiana once.
You write with funny words.
English is bad enough.
Good 55
We have posted
Always learning something here .. its a good thing!
This is fascinating!
You got the perfect blend of meaning conveyed by using both the terms, Laawaris and dalit.
So he is not a black sheep, but one who breaks the shackles of tradition classification and casteicism
I like him more each time :)
Oh...A rebel!!
Excellent 55 Mojo...
Yes, what we do without Monique?
I never want to find out....
Thanks for contributing so wonderfully again...
Have a Great Week-End...G
Oh man, I have to still go back and read my very own special all in one version of this story. Since it's going to rain all weekend, I will do it then!
Happy 55 Friday to you, Mojo.
Can you believe it, I actually played this week!
as always a great installment, mojo :)
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