editor, Author at Caribbean Hindustani

More Lalan Ke Moeran by Motimala Bholasing Translated & Transliterated

July 10, 2021

More Lalan Ke Moeran by Motimala Bholasing Translated & Transliterated Thanks to Karan Menon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj6y3qj8DPo

More Lalan Ke Moeran is a sohar, a traditional Bhojpuri folk song celebrating the birth of a child sung by Indo-Surinamese singer Motimala Bholasing. The songs concerns the “moeran”(mundan in Hindi), the ritual first haircut of a Hindu infant. The lyrics are fairly simple to understand and contain a lot of repetition, so this is a great song to listen to as someone who is a beginner in Caribbean Hindustani or new to Indo-Caribbean culture. Keep your eye out for wordspertaining to the family.

बाजे बधाइयाँ, अरे बाजे बधाइयाँ (2x)

Give the congratulations, give the congratulations

मोरे लालन के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ (3x)

Today is my child’s moeran (first haircut), give the congratulations

बाजे बधाइयाँ, की बाजे बधाइयाँ (2x)

Give the congratulations, give the congratulations (to the child)

मोरे लालन के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ (3x)

Today is my child’s moeran (first haircut), give the congratulations

मूरन कराने आये ललना के आजा, मूरन कराने आये ललना के आजी (2x)

The little one’s paternal grandfather came to do the moeran. The little one’s paternal grandmother came to do the moeran.

उनकर पोता के मूरन है आज, बाजे बधाइयाँ, उनकर पोतीं नांदिन के मूरन है आज, बाजे बधाइयाँ

Today is their grandson’s moeran, give the congratulations. Today is their granddaughter’s moeran, give the congratulations.

मूरन कराने आये ललना के नाना, मूरन कराने आये ललना के नानी (2x)

The little one’s maternal grandfather came to do the moeran. The little one’s maternal grandmother came to do the moeran.

उनकर नाती के मूरन है आज, बाजे बधाइयाँ, उनकर नातिन के मूरन है आज, बाजे बधाइयाँ

Today is their grandson’s moeran, give the congratulations. Today is their granddaughter’s moeran, give the congratulations.

मोरे लालन के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ

Today is my child’s moeran (first haircut), give the congratulations

मूरन कराने आये ललना के पूवा, मूरन कराने आये ललना के पूफा

The little one’s aunt (father’s sister) came to do the moeran. The little one’s uncle (father’s sister’s husband) came to do the moeran.

मूरन कराने आये ललना के काका, मूरन कराने आये ललना के काकी

The little one’s uncle (father’s brother) came to do the moeran. The little one’s aunt (father’s brother’s wife) came to do the moeran.

उनकर बेटा के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ, उनकर बेटी के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ

Today is their son’s moeran, give the congratulations. Today is their daughter’s moeran, give the congratulations.

मोरे लालन के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ

Today is my child’s moeran (first haircut), give the congratulations

मूरन कराने आये ललना के मौसी, मूरन कराने आये ललना के मौसा

The little one’s aunt (mother’s sister) came to do the moeran. The little one’s uncle (mother’s sister’s husband) came to do the moeran.

मूरन कराने आये ललना के मामा, मूरन कराने आये ललना के मामी

The little one’s uncle (mother’s brother) came to do the moeran. The little one’s aunt (mother’s brother’s wife) came to do the moeran.

उनकर बहिने के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ, उनकर बहिने के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ

Today is their nephew’s moeran, give the congratulations. Today is their niece’s moeran, give the congratulations.

मोरे लालन के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ (2x)

Today is my child’s moeran (first haircut), give the congratulations

बाजे बधाइयाँ, की बाजे बधाइयाँ (2x)

Give the congratulations, give the congratulations (to the child)

मोरे लालन के मूरन है आज बाजे बधाइयाँ (3x)

Today is my child’s moeran (first haircut), give the congratulations

Notes: Family related words are among the few Caribbean Hindustani nouns that may distinguish between gender. Male and female nouns referring to family members can sometimes be differentiated by the endings -a and -i (nana/aaja being a grandfather, and nani/aaji being a grandmother). However, if the male noun ends with an -i, the female counterpart ends with an -in (naati being grandson, naatin being granddaughter). You’ll see some male words ending in -a whose female counterpart ends with an -in as well (i.e. dulaha for groom, dulahin for bridge).

The words pota and naati are synonymous (meaning grandson) as are the words potin and naatin (meaning granddaughter)

Also, Bhojpuri does not have a unique word to represent niece and nephew, so beta (son) and beti (daughter) are used to represent the parent-like relationship between aunt/uncle and niece/nephew. The word bahine, which comes from the word for sister, also means both niece and nephew. However, with the influence of Hindi, bhateej and bhateejin are also used to represent nephew and niece respectively.

Bahuwa Chaleli (1985) by Sundar Popo Translated & Transliterated

Bahuwa Chaleli (1985) by Sundar Popo Translated & Transliterated Thanks to Karan Menon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAbPK96u3Lg

बहुवा चलेली नहीं घरवा बलम सुसुकि देखि रोवे। (2x)

The daughter-in-law did not go home. My beloved was seen suskaying (to inhale when crying or sobbing) while crying

महलो में रोवे तू महलो में रोवे (2x)

You’re crying in the big building/house.

देहरी में सिर देखे मारे बालम सुसुकि देखि रोवे

My beloved was seen suskaying (sobbing) while crying with her head on the earthen pot

बहुवा चलेली नहीं घरवा बलम सुसुकि देखि रोवे।

The daughter-in-law did not go home. My beloved was seen suskaying (to inhale when crying or sobbing) while crying

कोटे में रोवे कोठारिया में रोवे।(2x)

You’re crying in the coat, you’re crying in the closet/chamber

सहजे के सिर देखे मारे बालम सुसुकि देखि रोवे।

My beloved was seen suskaying(sobbing) while crying with her head on the bed

बहुवा चलेली नहीं घरवा बलम सुसुकि देखि रोवे।

The daughter-in-law did not go home. My beloved was seen suskaying (to inhale when crying or sobbing) while crying

बाघों में रोवे बगीचों में रोवे।(2x)

You’re crying in the parks, you’re crying in the gardens

निंबुला में सिर देखे मारे बालम सुसुकि देखि रोवे।

My beloved was seeing suskaying (sobbing) while crying with her head on the lemon tree

बहुवा चलेली नहीं घरवा बलम सुसुकि देखि रोवे।

The daughter-in-law did not go home. My beloved was seen suskaying (to inhale when crying or sobbing) while crying

सेजिया में रोवे सजरिया में रोवे (2x)

You’re crying on the bed, you’re crying on the marital bed

तकिया में सिर देखे मारे बालम सुसुकि देखि रोवे।

My beloved was seeing suskaying (sobbing) while crying with her head on the pillow

बहुवा चलेली नहीं घरवा बलम सुसुकि देखि रोवे।

The daughter-in-law did not go home. My beloved was seen suskaying (to inhale when crying or sobbing) while crying

Lyrics and Translation of Krishna Ko Sang by Johnny Mykoo

June 1, 2021

Krishna Ko Sang by Johnny Mykoo Translated & Transcribed by Karan Menon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJDZaEttF-Q

संघत से गुन वोटिये, संघत से गुन जाई
(Let us give praise (to God) together)

पास पास मिसरी की एक बा उ भिकाए सिया बोले रामचंद्र की जय भगवान
(Close together, we say Jay Bhagwan (victory to the Lord) to Lord Rama)

कृष्णा को संग बो तू बालक, गो चलावन बन गया (4x)
(You children are with Lord Krishna, and became cow grazers (metaphorically meaning that they join the path of Lord Krishna))

हरी की ज्ञान में दाना लेना सुन सुन साजन दान रे (4x)
(Take the gift of the Lord’s wisdom, listen beloved, take the gift)

जनम लिन्हे बस की ज्ञान में नन्दा को ला ला भए (4x)
(The news arrives that Nanda Baba’s dear son has taken birth)

कृष्णा को संग बो तू बालक, गो चलावन बन गया (2x)
(You children are with Lord Krishna, and became cow grazers (metaphorically meaning that they join the path of Lord Krishna))

सपन को जरु सन समाये जो ते गोपी ग्वाल को (4x)
(Closely understand your dreams and look at the gopis-gwals (the cowherd and the cowherd maidens))

झुलते मैया महल में पलजा सपन है दिल चारि को (4x)
(The mother (Yashoda) rests on her bed in her palace as she swings the child. She dreams with a pure heart. )

हमसे उ के सन सापी देखो चाहडा जात को (2x)
(I hope to go to see the cleanliness of this)

कृष्णा को संग बो तू बालक, गो चलावन बन गया (4x)
(You children are with Lord Krishna, and became cow grazers (metaphorically meaning that they join the path of Lord Krishna)

Translation and Lyrics for Kahwase Aye (काहवा से आयो) sung by Ashnie

May 3, 2021

Lyrics for Kahwase Aye sung by Ashnie, thanks to Karan Menon.

https://youtu.be/gI7lptK3cw8

काहवा से आयो भगवाने, कहा से शिव शंकर, कहा से महादेव।
where did God, where did Shiv-Shankar, where Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) come from?
अरे कौने सखी के लाले खिले तोरे अंगना हो।
Which female friend’s sweetheart played in your courtyard?
अरे कौने सखी के लाले खिले तोरे अंगना हो।
अरे कौने सखी के लाले खिले तोरे अंगना हो।

कुर्बे से आयी भगवान, कुर्बे से शिव शंकर, क़ुर्बे से महादेव हो।
God, Shiv-Shankar, and Mahadeva came from nearby
अरे राधा झुलावे अपुन गोदिया गुवार संगे नाचक हो।
Radha plays with the child in her lap and everyone is dancing together
अरे राधा झुलावे अपुन गोदिया गुवार संगे नाचक हो।
अरे राधा झुलावे अपुन गोदिया गुवार संगे नाचक हो।

नाचे नाचे गाओ रे बहिनिया ललन को, खिलावत ललन को, झुलावत हो।
O Sisters sing and dance for the little one, play with the little one, swinging him
अरे झटवा दौरि, दौरि आवे झतनिया गोद उठावत हो।
This is something about the husband’s elder brother coming and the husband’s elder brother’s wife lifting the child into her lap
झटवा दौरि, दौरि आवे झतनिया गोद उठावत हो।
झटवा दौरि, दौरि आवे झतनिया गोद उठावत हो।

काहवा से आये कन्हैया, कहा से भैया लक्ष्मण, कहा से प्रभु राम हो ।
Where did Lord Krishna, Brother Lakshma, and Lord Ram come from?
अरे गोदिया खिलावे तीनो मैया बड़ी आनंतावत हो
the mother became very happy after playing with the child in her lap
अरे गोदिया खिलावे तीनो मैया बड़ी आनंतावत हो
अरे गोदिया खिलावे तीनो मैया बड़ी आनंतावत हो

Everything after this point is a repeat of the previous lines
काहवा से आयो भगवाने, कहा से शिव शंकर, कहा से महादेव।
अरे कौने सखी के लाले खिले तोरे अंगना हो।
अरे कौने सखी के लाले खिले तोरे अंगना हो।
अरे कौने सखी के लाले खिले तोरे अंगना हो।

काहवा से आये कन्हैया, कहा से भैया लक्ष्मण, कहा से प्रभु राम हो ।
अरे गोदिया खिलावे तीनो मैया बड़ी आनंतावत हो
अरे गोदिया खिलावे तीनो मैया बड़ी आनंतावत हो
अरे गोदिया खिलावे तीनो मैया बड़ी आनंतावत हो

अरे कौने सखी के लाले खिले तोरे अंगना हो।
अरे कौने सखी के लाले खिले तोरे अंगना हो।
अरे गोदिया खिलावे तीनो मैया बड़ी आनंतावत हो
अरे गोदिया खिलावे तीनो मैया बड़ी आनंतावत हो

Lyrics for Dotishboy sung by Sundar Popo

Lyrics for Dotishboy sung by Sundar Popo. Thanks to Karan Menon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm27nlZGWOA

[Chorus]
चलबो की नाही, तु ना चलबो की नाही
Coming or not, are you coming or not?
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (4x)
Are you coming with me or not?

चलबो की नाही, तु ना चलबो की नाही
Coming or not, are you coming or not?
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (2x)
Are you coming with me or not?

[Verse 1]
हमने विलिज में कोहरा बहुत है (4x)
In my village there are a lot of pumpkins

[Bridge]
हम तू अब तु ना व्याजबे की नाही
Will we fan each other or not?

[Chorus]
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (4x)
Are you coming with me or not?

चलबो की नाही, तु ना चलबो की नाही
Coming or not, are you coming or not?
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (2x)
Are you coming with me or not?

[Verse 2]
हमने विलिज ओकरो बहुत है (4x)
In my village there is a lot of okra (lady’s finger)

[Bridge]
हम तू अब तु ना व्याजबे की नाही
Will we fan each other or not?

[Chorus]
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (4x)
Are you coming with me or not?

चलबो की नाही, तु ना चलबो की नाही
Coming or not, are you coming or not?
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (2x)
Are you coming with me or not?

[Verse 3]
हमने विलिज बोडी बहुत है (4x)
In my village there is a lot of bodi (string bean)

[Bridge]
हम तू अब तु ना व्याजबे की नाही
Will we fan each other or not?

[Chorus]
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (4x)
Are you coming with me or not?

चलबो की नाही, तु ना चलबो की नाही
Coming or not, are you coming or not?
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (2x)
Are you coming with me or not?

[Verse 4]
हमने विलिज में बैगन बहुत है (4x)
In my village there are a lot of eggplants(aubergines)

[Bridge]
हम तू अब तु ना व्याजबे की नाही
Will we fan each other or not?

[Chorus]
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (4x)
Are you coming with me or not?

चलबो की नाही, तु ना चलबो की नाही
Coming or not, are you coming or not?
हमार संघे तु ना चलबो की नाही (2x)
Are you coming with me or not?

Lyrics For | HUM KA KARI | हम का करीं | By Raj Mohan & Ragga Menno

Lyrics For | HUM KA KARI | हम का करीं | By Raj Mohan & Ragga Menno| Thanks To Karan Menon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Siow2Vfnjzc

आय कोरोना बा
COVID-19 has come
दुनिया के भर चाइर बा
All around the world there is…
सबके मूड इ खाइर बा
Everyone is talking about this
हम ना जानी दे मढ़िया इ रौआ का
I don’t know when I can meet you
कहा से आइल बा?
Where did it come from?

हम का करि, का करि, का करि
What should I do?
अरे हम का करि, का करि, का करि
Hey, what should I do?
अब हम का करि, का करि, का करि
What should I do now?
न जाने का करि, का करि, का करि
I don’t know what to do.

इ तो कोरोना बा, ना इ खिलौना बा
This is the coronavirus, not a toy!
इससे तकर ना मार पीस लैले अपन हार
If we don’t kill it, it will defeat us
कोइके हाथ ना मिलाये, सबके बुद्धिये नमस्कार
Don’t touch each other’s hands, but send my greetings to the elders
कोई ? न लगाइये, सबसे दूर तुलक राहिले
? , maintain social distancing
अपन हाथ मोइसे धोये, नहीं बस्ताई के रोये
Wash your hands well, or else cry
थोड़ा बीमार देखोये, सीदा दातरार के जाइये
If you seem a bit sick, then go away (isolate yourself)
कोइके पास तु ना जाइये, मुहवा बंद करके रखिये
Don’t go near anyone, keep your mouth closed
न छिकये, न पादये न ? यार
Don’t sneeze, don’t fart, don’t ?, friend
इ तो कोरोना बा सबको घर दे बीमार
This coronavirus is giving sickness to every house
के पारी सुनके जोई बोले सरकारी
Listen to what the government says about this
तोह कोरोना बा से ना कर खिलवार
Don’t play around with this coronavirus
बतिया इ से बात हम का करि यार
I’m telling you what we are doing

हम का करि, का करि, का करि
अरे हम का करि, का करि, का करि
अब हम का करि, का करि, का करि
न जाने का करि, का करि, का करि

सबको कोसिस कर, और रहो अपना घर
Everyone put your effort and stay at home
जो तू बहरे न जाइये, कोरोना तू ना पाइए
If you don’t go out, corona won’t get you
तोर घर में सफाई, तो कोरोना भी न आई
If you keep your house clean, then corona won’t come either

इ कोरोना कसूर, के हम सबसे होला दूर
Because of this coronavirus, we got to stay far from others
आजा आजी से दूर, नाना नानी से दूर
Away from paternal and maternal grandparents
सब कोरोनिया से दूर, मैया बप्पा से दूर
Away from all coronaviruses, away from mom and dad
ना ही फिक लगे हमके बाकी कर एक पार इ
If we don’t feel well, we should do this

हमें हिम्मत बांध के लड़ेक पर इ, सबके साहेक पर इ
With strength we should fight together against this virus
तबके लड़ेक पर इ, मिल झूल के सात फिर मारेक पर इ
Once we fight this [virus], we can
इ जो कोरोना बाई, इससे ना कर खिलवार
Don’t play around with this coronavirus
बतिया ऐसे बात हम का करि यार?
I’m telling you what we are doing

हम का करि, का करि, का करि
अरे हम का करि, का करि, का करि
अब हम का करि, का करि, का करि
न जाने का करि, का करि, का करि

भाग यहाँ से! (Go away from here!)

हम ना खेल बाप अब तू चल
I’m not playing dad now you come
फिर हमके मार्डीस ता भोजा बेहाल
Otherwise our mouths will send suffering (i.e. coughing and sneezing)
हम तो घरे बैठक न मांगे इ बबाल
Sitting at home we don’t want this ?
से मांगी जाई दात्र और मैं ही असहोंडाल (हम का सुनीला?)
It will require distance and hospitals (what did I hear?)
सुन सुन हमार मामा-ममी, मौसा-मौसी
Listen our maternal aunts and uncles
हमार भाइयो बहिनो तांता ॐ और पड़ोसीन
Our brothers and sisters and our neighbors
हमार संघात यार (अच्छा?)
Our community, friends (really?)
हमार आजा-आजी, नाना-नानी, बुआ फूफा और जे के ना जानी
Our paternal grandparents, maternal grandparents, paternal aunt and uncle and even those we don’t know
हम बिन की दुआ अरे सबसे करि
We will pass this virus if everyone does this
इ कोरोना से देखो कोई ना मरी
Let’s make sure that no one dies from this coronavirus
जब सब कोई मिल के साथे लड़ी
When everyone fights together
बतिया अईसे बात तब हम का करि
I’m telling you what we are doing

हम का करि, का करि, का करि
अरे हम का करि, का करि, का करि
अब हम का करि, का करि, का करि
न जाने का करि, का करि, का करि

हम चल मचलवा दुनिया में
(Here the virus is talking and saying that it will go around the world)

हम का करि, का करि, का करि
अरे हम का करि, का करि, का करि
अब हम का करि, का करि, का करि
न जाने का करि, का करि, का करि

भाग यहाँ से, भाग यहाँ से! (Go away from here!)

हम का करि, का करि, का करि
(What should I do?)
अरे हम का करि, का करि, का करि
(He what should I do?)

का कर पाइये बॉय!
(Do something boy!)

Lyrics for Lalan Ghar Sung by Ashni Matadin

The lyrics for Lalan Ghar a Sohar sung by Ashni Matadin, thanks to Karan Menon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3vgjyo6WpE

ललन घर आयो रे, मंगल गावो (4x)
The little one has arrived, sing the auspicious songs
ललना के मैया गोदी खेलावे (2x)
The little one’s mother plays with the child in her lap
गोदी खेलावे, गोदी खेलावे
ललना के मैया गोदी खेलावे
नानी लोरी लोरी, नानी लोरी लोरी गायो रे मोहर लावो
The maternal grandmother sings lullabies, bring the child to me

ललन घर आयो रे, मंगल गावो
The little one has arrived, sing the auspicious songs
ललन घर आयो रे, सोहर गावो
The little one has arrived, sing the Sohars (childbirth songs)

ललना के पप्पा कांधा झुलावे (2x)
The little one’s dad swings the child on his shoulders
कांधा झुलावे, कांधा झुलावे
नाना बलि बलि, नाना बलि बलि जायो रे, मंगल गावो
The maternal grandfather goes happily, sing the auspicious songs

ललन घर आयो रे, मंगल गावो
ललन घर आयो रे, मंगल गावो

ललना के आजी, बेना डोलावे (2x)
The little one’s paternal grandmother is fanning the child with a hand-held fan
पेन डोलावे, बेना डोलावे
ललना के आजी, पेन डोलावे
आजा बलि बलि, आजा बलि बलि जायो रे, मंगल गावो
The paternal grandfather goes happily, sing the auspicious songs
ललन घर आयो रे, सोहर गावो
ललन घर आयो रे, मंगल गावो (repeat till end)

Deyas: A Product of the Konhaar or Potter Tradition

November 10, 2020

It’s Divali time once again! One of the most popular thing this year round is the deya or small earthen pots used as lamps to celebrate the festival. But during this period the Konhaar or Potter who mass produces these are never highlighted. The word Konhaar is the Bhojpuri term for the Standard Hindi word Khumbhaar meaning potter. In the Indian tradition, this was a caste or profession that was passed down through families. A tradition that bears evidence in the popular names of families that run pottery shops of the Indo-Caribbean tradition in Suriname, Trinidad and Guyana.

This tradition of the Indo-Caribbean experience is very under represented in the research material that covers Caribbean history. Often we find research on the pottery of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, but seldom this pottery tradition that was brought by Indian indentured immigrants is seldom enocuntered. The artist, Mr. Ricahrd Rampersad of T&T, is one of the few individuals who have actually covered the Konhaar tradition in Trinidad & Tobago during his post graduate research at the University of the West Indies in his masters thesis “Memories In Mud: Probing The Material Culture of the Pottery Tradition in Central Trinidad”. He looked at various families in Chasevillage and Charlieville, Trinidad who still practise this tradition and continue to make a livelihood of it while keeping the tradition alive.

These are among the many Indo-Caribbean traditions that we explore here at Caribbean Hindustani.

Here is an excerpt from the documentary done by Pavan Marhe of the Netherlands on the Indian pottery tradition in Suriname: https://www.facebook.com/983078648560376/videos/677406363192100

Please see:
http://www.rampersadart.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM3vNzTPWzJcA9hgcEXlMIA

Is Caribbean Hindustani a corrupted form of Hindi

October 27, 2020

Caribbean Hindustani and its variants; like Trinidad Bhojpuri, Sarnami and Guyanese Bhojpuri, have too often been a subject of much scrutiny. After indentureship and the independence of India. Khari Boli or Modern Standard Hindi (MSH) slowly replaced the older standards of Braj Bhasha and Awadhi. This all Hindustani was compared to this new standard.

Because Caribbean Hindustani was more a spoken Hindustani it was deemed inferior to MSH. Further, because of the high degree of lexical similarities between the two languages in contrast with their grammatical differences, Caribbean Hindustani was seen as a “broken” or “corrupted” variety of MSH. However, Bhojpuri, which formed the critical mass of Caribbean Hindustani, is of much greater antiquity than MSH. Even the famous poet Kabirdas of the 15th century composed in Baranasi Boli, a variety of Bhojpuri.

Here is an example of a Caribbean Hindustani word that is quite popularly used in the Caribbean. “Tāwā” (a flat metal griddle used to make roti) is the word known by most of the descendants of the Indian indentured laborers’ descendants. However, when they attend Hindi classes and learn the MSH cognate, “tawā”, the impression is that the Indo-Caribbean version is a corrupted form.

Reference: Mohan, Peggy Ramesar; Trinidad Bhojpuri a Morphological Study; 1978

The Trinidad Bhojpuri Family Tree

October 23, 2020

Caribbean Hindustani presents the Trinidad Bhojpuri family tree. It illustrates the different names by which we call our various family members in the Indo-Caribbean tradition. You can see how it is more scientific than the conventional English way of naming our relatives. There are some differences that one may notice when comparing with the modern standard Hindi family tree. There may also be slight differences in the Sarnámí (Surinamese Hindustani) family tree and the Guyanese Bhojpuri family tree. Also, note that ‘swayam’, which indicates from whose perspective the tree was drawn up. The illustration is from a male perspective, and if done from a female perspective the names would change.

Like in Modern Standard Hindi, these names of kin are derived from spoken Sanskrit or Prakrit. Bhojpuri yields these names of kin from Magadhi Prakrit (the eastern vernacular of spoken Sanskrit) and Hindi from Shauraseni Prakrit (the central-western vernacular of spoken Sanskrit). This would account for the differences in Bhojpuri vs Hindi.

The Hindustani family tree is more scientific when compared to English and European languages as each kin has one word for a specific name. Where as in English you use two words to describe your “maternal grandmother” in Trinidad Bhojpuri it is specific to one word “Nani”

Please leave a comment and let us know what you think. Caribbean Hindustani is working to document and preserve all of our Indo-Caribbean traditions such as this. Please feel free to contact us if there are any special pieces of information you would like to request!

#TrinidadBhojpuriFamilyTree

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