THE LIMITS OF MY LANGUAGE


























“The limits of my language are the limits of my universe.”

 ― Goethe

It all started from this colourful phrase – ‘Turn Coats’. This TV anchor was referring to some Maharashtra MLAs as ‘Turn Coats’. They had been recently elected as people’s representatives from a particular political party. But, now, they were switching sides… So conveniently; rather, so brazenly!

Apparently, ‘Turn Coats’ was how such characters were called traditionally. But, for many of us, a TV anchor, like this one, was needed to familiarize us with this vocabulary.

So, when a young boy, who wasn’t familiar with such lingo, was asking me for the meanings of ‘Turn Coats’, ‘Horse Trading’, ‘Protem Speaker’ etc., I, suddenly, became conscious of scores of such words and phrases. Just for some fun, I scribbled them here, randomly…

Hope, you will be able add many, many more…








Rubber Stamp, Remote Control, Fiscal Deficit,

Nationalists, Anti Nationals, Urban Naxals,

Bhakt, Andh Bhakht, Lutean’s Delhi, Political Rhetoric,

Master Stroke, Body Blow, Interim Relief, Tiranga, 

Indian Army,

Yogi, Out-on-bail, Bail Gadi, Head Counts, Debate, Expunge,

Nation Wants Know, Public Exchequer, Third Gender,

Fourth Estate, Secular, Sickular, Secular Democracy,

Pseudo Secularist, Banana Republic, Caesar’s Wife,

Dynasty Politics, Chowkidar, Fascist, Italian, Dalits,

Opportunists, Agenda, Verdict, Clear Mandate,

People’s Mandate, Fractured Mandate, Vetted, Vindicated,

Political Atmosphere, Political Vendetta, FDI, Caged Parrot,

Tax Terrorism, CBI, ED, Supreme Court, High Court,

Defamation Case, Freedom of Speech, Article 370,

Article 15, Section 375, IT Cell,

Troll Army, Tweet, Re-tweet, Followers, Viral,

Mandi, Slow Down, Melting Pot, Gabbar Singh Tax,

Aakde, Mitron, RaGa, NaMo, Fakir, Feku, Pappu,

Economic Slowdown, Subramanian Swami,

Pandrah Lakh, Jumla, Vikas, 

Gau Rakshak, Vande Mataram, Jai Sri Ram,

Lynching,

NYAY, Manrekha , Mann Ki Baat, 

GDP, Berojgaari, Note Bandhi, Demonetization,

Common Minimum Programme, NRC, Cattle Class,

Bandh Karo Bandh Karo, Treasury Bench, Manifesto,

Populist Budget, Manavadhikar (Human Rights),

Dadagiri Nahi Chalegi, Alpa Sankya (Minority),

Zero Tolerance, Babus, Ninda (Condemn),

Green Lungs, Pariah, Tanashahi (Dictatorship),

Compromised, Anti-sedition Law, Legal Immunity,

Judiciary, Lame Duck, Sold Media, Narrative, Agenda,

WhatsApp University, Loose Cannon, Turn Coat, 

Horse Trading,

Political Class, Jibe, Protem Speaker, Civil Society, 

Lokpal Bill,

NRC, Citizenship Bill, Hung Parliament, Iftar Party,

All-party Meeting,

Zero Hour, Walk Out, Question Hour, Political pot-shot,

Chanakya, Crony Capitalism, Demagogue,

Electoral Bonds, Quid-pro-quo, Whip, Gag order,

Contempt of Court, Infiltration, Mahagatbhandhan,

Grand Alliance, Maha Vikas Agadi, Incumbent, By-poll,

Anti-Incumbency, Simple Majority, Half-way mark,

Hindi Heartland, Cow Belt, Tukde-tukde gang,

Godi Media, Modia, Pestitudes, Left-wing, Right-wing,

Left-of-Centre, Right-of-Centre, Sealed Cover, 

Kaveri, Sadguru, Sri Sri Sri,

Baba Rarmdev, Patanjali, Arnab Goswami, 

Hum Bole Toh Bole Kya?,

Pre-poll Alliance, Post-poll Alliance, Anti-defection Law,

Rapists, Racists, Gang Rape, Global Warming, 

Police Encounter,

Climate Change, Criminal Record, Sanghi’s, Commi’s, Raffael,

Congi’s, Aatankwad (Terrorism), Loan waiver, Surgical Strike,

Intolerance, Sab Changa Si, Howdi Modi, Padyatra, 

Street Show,

High Command, Road show, Press the Bell-icon,

Head Quarters, Nagpur, Political Drama, Courtroom Drama,

Single-member Bench, Larger Bench, Review Petition,

Urban Naxals, Maoists, Saffron, Reds, A Welcome judgement,

A Balanced Judgement, Ram Lalla Virajman, Mandir,

Ayodhya, Shabrimala, Triple Talaq, The Valley, The Ghati,

Gandhi-Nehru Family, Loyalist…




Yes, the limits of my language are the limits of my universe!


GERALD D’CUNHA

Pics.: Internet

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