Previously at ATP we have talked about ‘Redundancy’ and about ‘Naming Names’ in Pakistan. At those posts lively comments by many of our readers made the original post even more interesting. Once again we are hopeful that our loyal readers will come forward and add to this post with their own interesting questions.
So question is: what is it?
Is it ‘Shala-mar’ as written in most Mughal historical manuscripts or is it ‘Shali-mar’ as written on the boxes of expensive French perfume named after the famous gardens in Lahore and in Kashmir? What is it?
Is it ‘Mumtaz Mahal’ as the queen of Emperor Shahjahan for whom he built that magnificent mausoleum in Agra at the banks of river Yamuna, or is it the gaudy and tasteless casino ‘Taj Mahal’ built by developer Donald Trump at the shores of Atlantic Ocean in the US of A. Which one is it?
Is it ‘Badeshahi Qala’ or simply ‘Shai Qila’ as pronounced by Lahorites?
Is it ‘Poto-har, Pot-war, or Poth-war’ Plateau (all at once in the same government of Pakistan official publication)?
Again is it ‘Ka-ra-chi’ or ‘Ka-ran-chi’ as my great-aunt used to say? Which one is it?
Is it ‘University of the Punjab’ as printed on the left side of my diploma or is it ‘Punjab University’ as printed on the right side of the same document. What is it?
Is it ‘Syed’ as in ‘Tahira Syed’ the famous singer-daughter of the famous singer-mother, or is it ‘Syeda’ as in ‘Syeda Abida Hussain’ the famous politician-daughter of famous politician-father ‘Syed Maratab Ali Shah’?
Is it ‘Mohammad Nawaz s/o Mohammad Sharif’ as stated on his original birth certificate or is it ‘Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif Sahab’ as printed on his election campaign posters? Which one is it?
Is it ‘Jillani’ as ‘Shaikh Abdul Qadar Jillani of Bagdad’ or is it ‘Gillani’ as ‘Pir-Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani of Multan’?
And then, is it ‘Enlightened Moderation’ or ‘Moderate Enlightenment’?
Which one is it?
The above are some of the questions in my mind and in the minds of other readers of ATP which need a resolution.
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@jalal,
I find it ironic that you credit “hindu mentality” for changing Mumtaz to Taj, and then in the same post mention Faisalabad, which used to be Lyallpur.
Do you have any comments about muslim mentality?
i think that Egyptians pronounce J (jeem) sound as g (gaaf).
i think they remember their president as Gamal abdul nasir, we call him Jamal abdul nasir.
May be the same difference appears in the pronunciation of Jillani or Gillani…
Both Gilani and Jilani are correct. The Arabic letter ‘jeem’ is pronounced as G (as in God) in Egypt and Sudan. Like, Gamal Abdul Nasser in Egypt was pronounced as Jamal Abdul Nasser in the rest of the Arab world.
“Enlightened moderation” is bad English. I am sure it would make the renowned lexicographers like Fowler and Samuel Johnson turn in their graves. Moderate enlightenment also does not sound right; it is an attempt to correct (or moderate?) the first construction.
Shalimar may be right. Shalamar sounds like the Punjabi variation.
Karachi or Karanchi? Is it chaawal (rice) or chaanwal? I think it’s question of phonetics or whatever you call it.
@Jalal: It’s not a question of mentality. It’s a question of language. I have seen a lot of Pakistani Punjabis in the villages pronounce Z as J, like Jameen (land) instead of zameen. So, please don’t start a Hinu-Muslim riot.
The observation is very valid - sometime back when I was developing the section on Landmarks of Pakistan, and when adding “Shalamar Bagh”, all material available on the subject always called it “Shalimar” rather than “Shalamar” - it left me confused but then I decided to name it Shalamar Bagh as the common sense directed ( http://www.pakistanpaedia.com/landmarks/shalamar-g ardens_lahore.htm )
as for Taj Mahal, it is perhaps the Hindu mentality which changed the word from Mumtaz to Taj ( as normally women with the name of Mumtaz are known as Taj) to avoid giving an impression that it was a Muslim architecture or the architecture is attributed to the Muslims.
Some other names also get mutilated for instance “Fasail - Abad” which is generally called “Faisla - bad” etc.
And now another Urdu is in the offing which is further changing words we once read in our early education. “Ibtada - beginning” has been replaced with “Shurooaat”, “Khoobsoorat (with Urdu Khay)- beautibul” is now been called “Khoobsoorat (with Urdu Kaaf+Hay), and of course our actors and dramists take pride on “Ooperwala” rather than Allah Ta’alah.
Progressing - aren’t we??
Note for author: Please make correction.
Syeda Abida Hussain is the daughter of Col Abid Hussain and not Syed Maratib Ali Shah as quoted in article
Temporal,
Ask your friend about this too :-)
1. In Rawalpindi, near Race Course, wagon walay often say “Trouser Camp” a gaya hay to passengers . *Trouser camp stop is here…
I smiled often on this as it is Transit Camp of Army :-) but wanted to confirm.
2. There is road on Muree Road in Rawalpindi called “Sixsath Road” as written in Urdu on sign boards..
Is it Sixsath Road or Sixth Road ;-)
Interesting post. The exact spelling really does not matter I think. However, it gives people an excuse to be different, out of the ordinary. For example, I have a friend whose name is Timur. Taimoor is how it’s usually spelt in Pakistan, but Timur reads more impressive :-).
my friend Czahid Psalim Xubair knows all the answers. ill ask him
;)