A - Z of Bongeivity

What's Bongeivity? Well, it's the mojo of Bongs (that's the name with which the people from West Bengal, India are fondly referred to). It is these thing which makes a Bong who he/she is. When people are working hard 24/7 to create 6- and 8-packs, it is these things which helps a Bong build his family pack with ease. Did I arouse your curiosity? Want to know more? Don't worry, here is the A - Z of Bongeivity. And remember, a little curiosity never killed a cat lest aside a blog reader.

A - is for Awpheesh (as in Office). This is where the average Kolkatan goes and spends a day hard at work. And if he works for the 'Vest Bengal Gawrment' he will arrive at 10, wipe his forehead till 11, have a tea break at 12, throw around a few files at 12.30, break for lunch at 1, smoke the 7th unfiltered cigarette at 2, break for 5th cup of tea at 3, sleep sitting down at 4 and go home at 4:30. It's a hard life!

B - is for Bhision. For some reason many Bengalis don't have good bhision. In fact in Kolkata most people are wearing spectacles all the time. Bhishon Bhalo and Bibhotso. Though means opposite, used for same situations depending on the beauty of fairer sex. Are close almost in a tie for second spot.

C - is for Chappell. Currently, this is the Bengali word for the Devil, for the worst form of evil. In the night mothers put their kids to sleep saying, 'Na ghumoley ebar Chappell eshey dhorey niye jabe'.

D - is for Debashish or any other name starting with Deb. By an ancient law every fourth Bengali Child has to be named Debashish. So you have a Debashish everywhere and trying to get creative they are also called Deb, Debu, Deba with variations like Debopriyo, Deboprotim, Debojyoti, etc. thrown in at times as creations of God himself!

E - is for Eeesh. This is a very common Bengali exclamation made famous by Aishwarya Rai in the movie Devdas. It is estimated that on an average a Bengali, especially Bengali women, use eeesh 10,089 times every year. 'Ei Morechhey' is a close second to Eeesh.

F - is for Feeesh. These are creatures that swim in rivers and seas and are a favourite food of the Bengalis. Despite the fact that a fish market has such strong smells, with one sniff a Bengali knows if a fish is all right. If not, he will say 'eeesh what feeesh is theesh!'

G - is for Good name. Every Bengali boy will have a good name like Debashish or Deboprotim! And ofcourse a pet name like Motka, Bhombol, Thobla, etc. While every Bengali girl will have pet names like Tia, Tuktuki, Mishti, Khuku, et cetera.

H - is for Harmonium. This Bengali equivalent of a rock guitar. Take four Bengalis and a Harmonium and you have the successors to The Bheatles!

I - is for Ileesh. This is a feeesh with 10,987 bones which would kill any ordinary person, but which the Bengalis eat with releeesh!

J - is for Jhola. No self-respecting Bengali is complete without his Jhola. It is a shapeless cloth bag where he keeps all his belongings and he fits an amazing number of things in. Even as you read this there are two million jholas bobbling around Kolkata, and they all look exactly the same! Note that 'Jhol' with mysterious condiments as in Maachher Jhol is a close second. Jhaamela and Jachhetai are distant 3rd and 4th.

K - is for Kee Kaando! It used to be the favorite Bengali exclamation till eeesh took over because of Aishwarya Rai. Kee mushkil is a close second.

L - is for Lungi, the dress for all occasions. People in Kolkata manage to play football and cricket wearing it, not to mention the daily trip in the morning to the local bajaar. Now there is talk of a lungi expedition to Mt Everest.

M - is for Minibaas. These are dangerous half buses whose antics would effortlessly frighten the living daylights out of all James Bond stuntmen as well as Formula 1 race car drivers. M for Mamatadi too!

N - is for Nangto. This is the Bengali word for Naked. It is the most interesting naked word in any language!

O - is for Oil. The Bengalis believe that a touch of mustard oil will cure anything from cold (oil in the nose), to earache (oil in the ear), to cough (oil on the throat) to piles (oil you know where!). "Nyakami hochhe?" is a close second.

P - is for Phootball. This is always a phavourite phassion of the Kolkatan. Every Bengali is born an expert in this game. The two biggest clubs there are MOHUNBAGAN and East Bengal and when they play the city comes to a stop.

Q - is for Koshchen (question) as in "Mamatadi! koshchens Cheap Ministaar in Writaars Buiding."

R - is for Robi Thakur. Many many years ago Rabindranath got the Nobel Prize. This has given the right to all Bengalis no matter where they are to frame their acceptance speeches as if they were directly related to the great poet and walk with their head held high. This also gives Bengalis the birthright to look down at Delhi and Mumbai and of course 'all non-Bengawlees'! Note that 'Rawshogolla' comes a close second!

S - is for Shourav. Now that they finally produced a genuine cricketer, that too a captain, Bengalis think that he should be allowed to play until he is 70 years old.

T - is for Trams. Hundred years later there are still trams in Kolkata. Of course if you are in a hurry it's faster to walk. Trams are still existing in Paris too you see!

U - is for Aambrela. When a Bengali baby is born he is handed one.

V - is for Bhaayolence. Bengalis are the most non-violent violent people around. When an accident happens they will fold up their sleeves, shout and scream and curse and abuse, "Chherey De Bolchhi". But the last time someone actually hit someone was in 1939.

W - is for Water. For three months of the year the city is underwater and every year for the last 200 years the authorities are taken by surprise by this!

X - is for X'mas. It's very big in Kolkata, with Park Street fully lit up and all Bengalis agreeing that they must eat cake that day.

Y - is for Yesshtaarday. Which is always better than today for a Bengali (see R for Robi Thakur). It is also for Jubraj Shingh and Joga.

Z - is for Jebra, Joo, and Jipper. Zaaa taaa bangalira chhara aar keu kisssoo Zaane naa.