Sandeep Nulkar's 'Mind It!' hilariously chronicles India's transformation of English, blending tradition with irreverence, making it accessible to the masses while challenging purist norms. Monojit Lahiri reviews the book…

Sandeep Nulkar’s book, Mind It!, offers a witty exploration of how Indian English has evolved, shedding its colonial roots to become a vibrant, expressive form of communication for millions. This transformation, driven by the digital age, democratizes English, making it accessible beyond elite circles. Nulkar's engaging narrative is filled with humorous examples and sharp insights, making it a must-read for anyone interested in language, culture, and the dynamic evolution of English in India. Whether you're a linguistic purist or an everyday speaker, Mind It! promises to entertain and enlighten in equal measure.

Language is the Vehicle of Human Thought.

Language, that magnificent vehicle of human thought, was created to inform, connect, enrich, enlighten, entertain, and even empower those who share it. Its richness and beauty, powered by passion and purpose, caress the heart and romance the soul. However, in recent times, this poetic definition has been handed a hat and walking stick and disdainfully shoved towards a door marked "EXIT." It seems the poor chap didn’t even get a goodbye note.

The New-Age Concept of Language

Enter the new-age concept of language, largely informed and influenced by the digital revolution. Here, brevity is king, and being direct is practically a commandment. As a result, we bid adieu to the "propah" grammatically correct English usage and usher in the reign of the popular, expressive, and all-embracing Indian English! For those still clutching their grammar books in despair, let it go—it's time to embrace the revolution.

The Democratization of English

Sandeep Nulkar, the Pune-based veteran of the translation industry and one of its globally respected exponents, has chronicled this linguistic revolution with flair in his delightful book, Mind It!. This isn't just a book; it's a rallying cry for those who’ve successfully pushed traditional English towards the ICU/cardiac arrest zone. Gone are the days when English was the sole property of the missionary convent school types. Now, it’s been democratically simplified, "masalafied," and made accessible to the unwashed zillions. In this grand blueprint, we’re blazing a new trail - for English with the mission: Seedha Bol. Mota Bol. Jaldi Bol!!! 

Masalafying the Queen’s English

In the process, we've given the Queen's English a makeover that would leave her Majesty herself blinking in disbelief. We've stripped it of its nuances, dressed it up in flamboyant irreverence, and sent it out to mingle with the masses. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a bit of "masala" with their language? After all, why say something in ten words when three will do? Especially if those three words pack a punch strong enough to knock over a cricket team.

Tons of Charming Examples

Nulkar’s Mind It! bogeys with tons of charming examples that hit you in hilarious fashion, again and again. From "Anyways" to "Hi-fi person," the book is a treasure trove of Indian English gems that would prompt any Brit to consider mass harakiri had they been around to see how effortlessly we’ve decoded their language and made it our own. Whether it’s "Get fresh," "Stop eating my head," or "Back to square one," these phrases are as much a part of our daily lives as chai and cricket. The Brits may have given us their language, but we’ve certainly given it a flavour they never could have imagined.

A Must-Read

Nulkar’s path-breaking effort is a classic tongue-in-cheek exercise. To the purists, it may seem like a foot-in-mouth situation, but for the rest of us, it’s a must-read. This is a book for all English-speaking Indians who are open to being appropriately amused and confused in one fell swoop. The aam junta (common people) will certainly connect with it, but for anyone in the West, these wonderful examples of Indian English could be equal to QUIZ TIME because the connotations and associations are totally dipped in local flavour, making confusion confounded big-time! 

So, are the architects of this new Indian English apologetic or embarrassed? Not a chance! Their response? "WE ARE LIKE THAT ONLY," while wagging a defiantly threatening finger and adding a cheeky "MIND IT!"