New Delhi: I come from a small town called Mutthi (Jammu) with a very humble middle class upbringing. My father left Kashmir in a midst of turmoil when thousands of Kashmiri pundits were facing a forced exodus and they were stripped off their identity, their livelihoods and most of their home in Kashmir. Growing in Delhi, I never really understood my connection to the valley but it was all around me. Somehow I knew all as we discussed so many things and our summer holidays in Jammu and weddings of my cousins also helped.
I visited Kashmir for the first time as a kid, and found the place to be truly breathtaking. Despite the place being evidently not normal in many ways, it never missed to mesmerise me with the vast expanse of beauty and serenity it offered. All the landscapes looked like wallpapers and no amount of pictures could do justice to the surreal beauty of the place.
We were never meant to grow up away from our home, but even if that happened, we have always managed to connect back in our own little ways. We try to find it in the Kashmiri recipes we scout for, in the Kashmiri pandit groups we joined on Facebook, in the Koshur Samachar we read sometimes, in the joys of celebrating Shivratri, in the numerous times we performed Bumbro Bumbro, in the tears we shed while watching the 19th January temple scene in Shikara, the our most famous “Kashmiri language” and the list never ends.
I started learning Kashmiri language because my grandmother couldn’t speak Hindi or English. The only way to communicate with her was Kashmiri language and I started observing and learning the language for her. I remember the time when I started talking to her in Kashmiri, I could see the happiness on her face.
Travelling to Kashmir or any other place that has a different dialect could be quite a tough task if you are unaware with some of the commonly spoken words in the region. So, to ease your Kashmir travel woes, here is a collection of Kashmiri phrases which might help you to communicate with the local people there.
When in Kashmir, greet people by saying 'Namaskar'. Here are some other words and phrases which can help you:
1. Vārakāra – Good luck
It is used to wish someone good luck.
2. Toth - Apple of my eye
Mostly used by Kashmiri mothers for their kids. It means apple of my eye.
3. Kus Tavaan – What the hell
Well, whenever you see any Kashmiri angry, it is the most used word.
4. Hata Wayee – Aww
Just like Toth, it is one of most used words to express the feelings.
5. Trath – Thunder
Mostly used when someone gets angry , “Trath pade”
6. Azaab – Painfully
It is a word used when you’re feeling a pain or not feeling good
7. Tha Saa Wen – Let it be
Just like we used chordo ab, kashmiri use 'Tha Saa Wen'.
8. Phat Wagon – Useless
Wagon is also known as eggplant (brinjal) but Phat Wagon is useless.
9. Maze Balayi – Lots of fun
Personally, I use this word a lot, Maze Balayi.
10. Tasruff – Possessed
It is one of the mostly used words by Kashmiris, which means possessed.
Enjoy new Kashmiri words!!
