Vannakam

Vannakam! Welcome to the Hall family blog. I thought I’d use the first post to explain our blog title: Kindly Doing the Needful.

Before we came to Chennai, people kept reassuring me that I wouldn’t need Tamil to get along, that most people speak English. They didn’t warn me that I wouldn’t understand my own language. I’m getting used to the thick accents, and I believe people I deal with frequently are getting used to mine. But that’s only part of the problem.

First, there’s the issue of British vs. American English. Trucks are lorries, carts are trollies, one fixes appointments rather than making them. In shops (not stores), I’m given a ticket or billet rather than a receipt.

Then, there are the “Indianisms,” a few of which I’ll list here.

“Kindly do the needful.” This is another way of saying “please do what’s required.” If your daughter’s preschool needs you to fill out a form before they can officially put her on the roll, they will ask you to “kindly do the needful.” If someone’s visa is being held up because you haven’t finished your paperwork, you’ll be asked to “kindly do the needful.” I love this one, because I can read so many meanings into these few words, things beyond what’s literally meant.  Do what’s needed in a kind way. Pay attention to details. Do your part with a smile.

“Prepone” is the opposite of “postpone.” “I’ll be busy on the day of my appointment. May I prepone it to the previous day?”

"Auspicious" Traditionally, nothing is planned before determining what dates are "auspicious" according to Indian astrology. I suppose this translates as "lucky," though the connotations are more serious. Certain dates and times are considered auspicious for marriage, for buying gold, for starting any kind of new venture. This idea is so ingrained, that people at Johnny's baptism were congratulating him on the auspicious occasion.

“Veg or non-veg?” Will your meal contain meat?

“We are experiencing latency issues.” The Internet or computer connection is slow.

Okra is lady’s fingers. Bell peppers are capsicum. Lentils are dal.

So I’m learning another language, after all!