02 January 2014, 11:51 AM IST
If there is one thing that the last year should have taught many people then it is this - the status quo in India is changing like never before. To give readers an example - a brilliant solar lamp cum mobile phone charger, designed to global standards and specifications, performing well under all sorts of conditions, manufactured to satisfy the highest level of certification in the world, delivered anywhere in India for 645/- rupees, is quietly working a revolution all over rural India without the benefit of subsidy or schemes.
Shaped like a lantern, about the same size as a 1-litre bottle of packaged water, almost unbreakable, it also has a pin-to-USB lead which will power a tablet, smart-phone, even a small laptop, if required. Having introduced the support staff in and around my neighbourhood to it a few months ago, this has become the take-home gift of choice for many of them - especially people who live upcountry in small towns and villages where local mandi and "tax" laws make the movement of parcels carrying "commercial goods" difficult, if not impossible.
(To give one example, a leading online retailer can deliver these lamps into the capital city of a State, since it is connected by air, but the moment he attempts delivery across or beyond the city municipal limits, the courier staff run into all sorts of problems.)
Why am I giving this background, then, when the title is "words and phrases I don't want to hear in 2014"?
Simply this - over the last few decades, a few words and phrases have come into regular usage by the perception builders in our society, which have brought in these walls of privilege, that deny access to simple solutions even without government help for Indians - especially those in rural India.
So, for 2014, atleast I don't want to hear the following:-
# "common Indian/citizen/people" - this term has become almost acceptable practice, delivered with a fine sneer or smirk, by the best of the best on our TV news channels, print media and hoi-polloi. We are all citizens, remember?
# "vernacular" - derived from the Latin and Sanskrit root for 'language of the slaves', and used by people who do know better, but choose to use it all the same. Regional languages, or original Indian languages would be better, no?
# "airdash/aerial survey" - we all know that what this means, in all cases, is a nice snooze on an aeroplane that flies over a disaster zone, when said aircraft could have been used better for rescue purposes.
# "subsidies" - in most cases, barring a few honourable exceptions, we all know that this means funds being diverted into somebody's private pockets, preferably abroad, from where they come back as "FDI".
# "globalisation" - within the Indian context what this usually means is that junk and garbage imported from abroad should be allowed free run in India and the opposite is subject to all sorts of regulations.
There are many more, but 5 of them should do for now.
Do you have any of your own?
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