Hindi or Urdu ?

Published on July 22, 2004 By Confusing Musings In Current Events

Comment from Manish (Manke) on my previous post , reminded me of an incident relating the concept of Hindi in Mumbai.

Most of you who have watched Old Hindi movies and not-so-old Hindi movies must be remembering Leela Mishra. The ever lovable grandma of Hindi cinema. Tough facade but good at heart. The famous Mausi from Sholay.

Some 50 years back, when she arrived at Mumbai to try luck in movies, she was facing quite a difficulty in finding a house maid. No sooner did she have a conversation with the interested maid, than, the maid use to refuse citing some flimsy reason. This continued to happen for a few months. Perplexed, she checked with her neighbours the real reason behind the disappearing acts. She must have almost choked hearing that.

Maids refused working because they thought Leela Mishra was a Muslim. Muslim, because she used to speak in such a chaste Hindi that they use to take it for Urdu. For them, the concept of Hindi was apun, chalega, karega, tapori, aaney ka , jaaney ka etc . I could imagine the ashen expression on poor Leela Mishra's face. She would have laughed much later!

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