auto-rick n.— «And speaking of auto-rickshaws, I did work up the courage to make a few short trips on the three-wheelers. Affectionately called “auto-ricks” by the locals, they reminded me of Bangkok’s infamous tuk-tuks...
talking dictionary n.— «A few British bachelors developed liaisons with local lasses, usually tea-pickers. Such women were euphemistically—and imaginatively—called “talking dictionaries.” For she also helped to brush up the...
vernac adj.— «“They wanted a famous name from Mumbai to put on the marquee. I even organised that,” she said, “I got them a star performer, but they didn’t like him, said he was too vernac.” “Meaning what?”...
canteen honours n.pl.— «Shyam Benegal’s Bose: The Forgotten Hero makes me wish I had attended some classes, instead of doing what, in Presidency College Calcutta parlance, was called “canteen honours.”» —“Bose: A great...
wet adj.— «As water resources minister, Mr Munshi had been burdened with a lightweight ministry, one which is not quite as “wet” as the name may suggest (in Delhi parlance, a “wet” ministry is one where the...
splitter n.— «A 21-year-old architecture student, Kirtisagar Bollar, may have found a solution to the city’s paan-stained streets. His suggestion is to use splitters, (etymology: spitting and littering) which are plant pots attached to...