Thundering Words: The Martial Language of Nihangs

Thundering Words: The Martial Language of Nihangs
NIHANGSINGH.ORG

Like many nomadic communities, the Nihang Singhs have through the centuries developed a distinguishable dialect. This language is historically known as GarrGaj Bole ('The Thundering Language') of the Khalsa.

It combines a mixture of Punjabi, Hindi, Persian and other dialects used in the various regions of Punjab.

Bolay, words which form part of the Nihang dialect, historically served militaristic and psychological purposes.

Svaiyyai, or poetic verses, is the genre they use as a means of preserving oral history or traditions, which Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu took great effort to preserve in his monumental study, Pracchin Panth Parkash.

Finally, Jaikaray are battles cries which are raised by Nihang Singhs in order to draw strength from Akal Purakh ('The Timeless Being') and to strike fear in the enemy.

Vocabulary

A bola literally means a saying; bolay are the sayings of Nihang Singhs which in recent years have even become popular in common Punjabi culture. Often an item is called by the characteristics it possesses or the effect that it has.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sanatan-sikhism/32869-thundering-words-the-martial-language-nihangs.html

For example, a chilli is called ‘larraaki' which refers to someone with a fighting nature, as a result of the sting it leaves on one's tongue.

A fever or illness which causes weakening is referred to as Aakarhpun - arrogance.

A staff or wooden stick is called Ukuldan - one which bestows wisdom, referring to the beating which it delivers someone who won't behave.

In many ways, the language of the Nihang Singhs sheds light on the difficult times which they have gone through and illustrates how they maintain their high spirits - Chardi Kalaa - through tough and easy times. They essentially developed a distinct idiom to describe ordinary and dull things in life, or make the most out of dire conditions. This is illustrated by the luxurious titles given to even the basic necessities needed for survival which have not always been available to Nihangs, an example being the term ‘Mithaa Parshada', literally meaning sweet blessed food, which actually refers to the leftover roti which is a day or more old.

The bolay also reflect the military struggles of the Khalsa. Those who have opposed the Sikhs at any stage in history find themselves somewhat ridiculed in the Nihang dialect. The term for a donkey is ‘Thaanedar', literally meaning a police officer, as Nihangs are renowned for their carefree disregard for the worldly authorities which the police represent.

Muslim priests (Qazis) encouraged many atrocities on the Sikhs during the Mughal Rule of India. In return, the Nihang Singhs use the term Qazi when referring to a cockerel.

Some bolay also serve a military and defence purpose. Nihang Singhs refer to their kachherey (briefs) as a chhawni, meaning encampment. The Nihang Singh's kachhera is notoriously large in size and from a distance would appear to enemy scouts as a tents of the Khalsa warrior; suggesting the Khalsa warriors numbered far greater then they did.

Furthermore, each Nihang Singh fashions himself alone to be ‘savaa lakh' or equal to 125,000 warriors; thus enemy spies are never able to evaluate the numbers of the Khalsa army as from every quarter they would hear different numbers.

Nihang Singhs also refer to milk as samundar (ocean). Hearing of Nihang claims of drinking the ocean would strike fear into the enemy ranks long before they ever encountered the Khalsa on the battlefield.

Such psychological tactics have always been used by the Khalsa. Nihang Darshan Singh states:

‘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'. [Audio recording, July 2006]

A selection of Nihang Singh bolay and the object which they refer to in English are listed below:

<table width="321" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 72pt;" width="96"> <col style="width: 169pt;" width="225"> <tbody><tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td class="xl63" style="height: 15pt; width: 72pt;" width="96" height="20">Nihang Bola </td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 169pt;" width="225">English </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Aanday</td> <td>Potatoes (literally: Eggs)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Aakarrpun</td> <td>Body illness (Arrogance)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Arring Brring</td> <td>Lying down (Wrestling)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Badam</td> <td>Chick peas (Almonds)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Basant Kaur</td> <td>Corn (Spring Damsel)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Bata</td> <td>Iron bowl</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Bateray </td> <td>Aubergine (Partridge)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Billa</td> <td>Englishman (Cat)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Birajkay</td> <td>Seated (Holding Court)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Bhuhhangi</td> <td>Son (Snake)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Choona</td> <td>Flour (Lime-stone powder)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Chugal</td> <td>Mirror(Back-biter, tattler)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Chup</td> <td>Sugar (Silence)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">DC</td> <td>Limper</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Dhullay</td> <td>Meat</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Garday</td> <td>Rice</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Gobinday</td> <td>Watermelon</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Gobindyia</td> <td>Carrots</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Gurh</td> <td>Jaggery</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Heeray</td> <td>White hair (pearls)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Hulla</td> <td>Hurry (Blast of the East Wind)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jaan Bhai</td> <td>Horse (Blood brother)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jhatanga</td> <td>Goat</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jahaj</td> <td>Cart (Ship)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Kulga</td> <td>Baldy</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Kastoora</td> <td>Pig (Musk)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Kesar</td> <td>Tumeric (Saffron)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Laraki</td> <td>Chilli (Shrew)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Mamla</td> <td>Money (Revenue)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Mastana</td> <td>Care free/ empty</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Mitha Parshad</td> <td>Chapati (Sweet Sacrament)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Morcha</td> <td>Endeavour (Assault on the enemy)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Nihal Kaur</td> <td>Blanket (A Satisfying Woman)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Parsram</td> <td>Axe</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Patwaree</td> <td>Cat (Tax-collector)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Pathan Siri</td> <td>Cauliflour(Afghan soldier)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Bhootni</td> <td>Train (Witch)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Qazi</td> <td>Cockerel (Muslim cleric)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Rupa</td> <td>Onion (Silver)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Samundar</td> <td>Milk (Ocean)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Sarb Ras</td> <td>Salt (The Essence of Life)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32869
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Siropa</td> <td>Beating (Robe of Honour)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Sukha</td> <td>Cannabis (Pleasurable)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Subedar</td> <td>Sweeper (Police Sergeant)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Tehsildar</td> <td>Intelligent</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Thanedar</td> <td>Donkey (Police Constable)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Theekar</td> <td>Body (Shell)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Tid Fookni</td> <td>Tea (Stomach Destroyer)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Dhokhay Baaj</td> <td>Spoon (Imposter)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Vaheer</td> <td>Mobile camp</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Note to Readers: If you know other bolay of note, or better translations for any of those listed above, please share the same below in the COMMENT section. Thank you.

October 21, 2010

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