Abhishek Avtans अभिषेक अवतंस
@avtansa.bsky.social
Lecturer (Indic language/s), Leiden University (Netherlands), KHS (Agra), JNU (Delhi), Hindi, Urdu, Linguistics, Lit, भाषा, भाषाविज्ञान, साहित्य 🇮🇳 🇳🇱 ✍️🚲
https://avtans.com/2022/06/26/words-in/
https://avtans.com/2022/06/26/words-in/
While watching the series 1883, I realized how short is our collective memory. In those times, there was the epidemic of smallpox, which is called चेचक, शीतला & बड़ी माता chēchak śītlā & baṛī mātā in Hindi. It was a deadly disease devastating many families and communties.
October 30, 2025 at 10:54 AM
While watching the series 1883, I realized how short is our collective memory. In those times, there was the epidemic of smallpox, which is called चेचक, शीतला & बड़ी माता chēchak śītlā & baṛī mātā in Hindi. It was a deadly disease devastating many families and communties.
Tāq /tāk ताक़/ताक
Hindi has preserved this Arabic origin word in a common idiom niyamon ko tāk pe rakhnā नियमों को ताक पर रखना (to disregard the rules). So something kept on tāk is kind of left unattended or ignored.
Hindi has preserved this Arabic origin word in a common idiom niyamon ko tāk pe rakhnā नियमों को ताक पर रखना (to disregard the rules). So something kept on tāk is kind of left unattended or ignored.
October 26, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Tāq /tāk ताक़/ताक
Hindi has preserved this Arabic origin word in a common idiom niyamon ko tāk pe rakhnā नियमों को ताक पर रखना (to disregard the rules). So something kept on tāk is kind of left unattended or ignored.
Hindi has preserved this Arabic origin word in a common idiom niyamon ko tāk pe rakhnā नियमों को ताक पर रखना (to disregard the rules). So something kept on tāk is kind of left unattended or ignored.
Pālthī पालथी aka tailor pose
Did you know that pālthī पालथी i.e. sitting cross-legged on one's thighs is called the “tailor’s pose” in 🇬🇧 English and other European languages (as in Dutch 🇳🇱 kleermakerszit)?
Did you know that pālthī पालथी i.e. sitting cross-legged on one's thighs is called the “tailor’s pose” in 🇬🇧 English and other European languages (as in Dutch 🇳🇱 kleermakerszit)?
October 23, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Pālthī पालथी aka tailor pose
Did you know that pālthī पालथी i.e. sitting cross-legged on one's thighs is called the “tailor’s pose” in 🇬🇧 English and other European languages (as in Dutch 🇳🇱 kleermakerszit)?
Did you know that pālthī पालथी i.e. sitting cross-legged on one's thighs is called the “tailor’s pose” in 🇬🇧 English and other European languages (as in Dutch 🇳🇱 kleermakerszit)?
Nobel prize winners in literature by languages! What do you think?
#nobelprize
#nobelprize
October 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Nobel prize winners in literature by languages! What do you think?
#nobelprize
#nobelprize
The Milk Tea Alliance is a term used for pro-democracy networks of people from countries such as Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Myanmar against authoritarianism and Chinese state influence. It takes its name from the shared practice of drinking tea ☕ with milk in these countries.
October 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The Milk Tea Alliance is a term used for pro-democracy networks of people from countries such as Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Myanmar against authoritarianism and Chinese state influence. It takes its name from the shared practice of drinking tea ☕ with milk in these countries.
From वेताल की प्रेमिका (Indrajāl comics) in 1988.
October 7, 2025 at 3:20 PM
From वेताल की प्रेमिका (Indrajāl comics) in 1988.
Worcestershire sauce
It's a folk etymology that the recipe for Worcestershire sauce was brought by an ex-governor of Bengal, India. This lore was created by the company Lea & Perrins to exoticize their product in 19th-century Britain. The said governor, Marcus Sandys, had never set foot in India.
It's a folk etymology that the recipe for Worcestershire sauce was brought by an ex-governor of Bengal, India. This lore was created by the company Lea & Perrins to exoticize their product in 19th-century Britain. The said governor, Marcus Sandys, had never set foot in India.
October 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Worcestershire sauce
It's a folk etymology that the recipe for Worcestershire sauce was brought by an ex-governor of Bengal, India. This lore was created by the company Lea & Perrins to exoticize their product in 19th-century Britain. The said governor, Marcus Sandys, had never set foot in India.
It's a folk etymology that the recipe for Worcestershire sauce was brought by an ex-governor of Bengal, India. This lore was created by the company Lea & Perrins to exoticize their product in 19th-century Britain. The said governor, Marcus Sandys, had never set foot in India.
Is it विजयादशमी vijayādashamī or विजयदशमी vijayadashamī?
Vijayā विजया is a feminine noun in Sanskrit. In Hindu religious discourse, the 10th day of the bright half of Āśvina is called विजया vijayā. Vijayā is also the epithet of Goddess Durgā. [1]
Vijayā विजया is a feminine noun in Sanskrit. In Hindu religious discourse, the 10th day of the bright half of Āśvina is called विजया vijayā. Vijayā is also the epithet of Goddess Durgā. [1]
October 5, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Is it विजयादशमी vijayādashamī or विजयदशमी vijayadashamī?
Vijayā विजया is a feminine noun in Sanskrit. In Hindu religious discourse, the 10th day of the bright half of Āśvina is called विजया vijayā. Vijayā is also the epithet of Goddess Durgā. [1]
Vijayā विजया is a feminine noun in Sanskrit. In Hindu religious discourse, the 10th day of the bright half of Āśvina is called विजया vijayā. Vijayā is also the epithet of Goddess Durgā. [1]
Interesting find!
The Oral History of Tibetan Studies (OHTS) is a project that collects and archives the personal accounts and memories of individuals who contributed to Tibetan Studies as an academic discipline in the late 20th century.
oralhistory.iats.info/interviews/
The Oral History of Tibetan Studies (OHTS) is a project that collects and archives the personal accounts and memories of individuals who contributed to Tibetan Studies as an academic discipline in the late 20th century.
oralhistory.iats.info/interviews/
Interviews
oralhistory.iats.info
October 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Interesting find!
The Oral History of Tibetan Studies (OHTS) is a project that collects and archives the personal accounts and memories of individuals who contributed to Tibetan Studies as an academic discipline in the late 20th century.
oralhistory.iats.info/interviews/
The Oral History of Tibetan Studies (OHTS) is a project that collects and archives the personal accounts and memories of individuals who contributed to Tibetan Studies as an academic discipline in the late 20th century.
oralhistory.iats.info/interviews/
Here's to your good future🙌
विजयादशमी की शुभकामनाएँ (vijayādśamī kī śubhakāmanāẽ) - Happy Dussehra!!
In northern India, seeing Neelkanth bird, fish, curd, & silver coins upon opening the eyes on the Dussehra morning, is considered auspicious and good omens. 1/3
विजयादशमी की शुभकामनाएँ (vijayādśamī kī śubhakāmanāẽ) - Happy Dussehra!!
In northern India, seeing Neelkanth bird, fish, curd, & silver coins upon opening the eyes on the Dussehra morning, is considered auspicious and good omens. 1/3
October 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Here's to your good future🙌
विजयादशमी की शुभकामनाएँ (vijayādśamī kī śubhakāmanāẽ) - Happy Dussehra!!
In northern India, seeing Neelkanth bird, fish, curd, & silver coins upon opening the eyes on the Dussehra morning, is considered auspicious and good omens. 1/3
विजयादशमी की शुभकामनाएँ (vijayādśamī kī śubhakāmanāẽ) - Happy Dussehra!!
In northern India, seeing Neelkanth bird, fish, curd, & silver coins upon opening the eyes on the Dussehra morning, is considered auspicious and good omens. 1/3
विजयादशमी की शुभकामनाएँ। आज पढ़िए विजयादशमी (दशहरा) पर यह लेख जिसमें बताया गया है कि भारत के विभिन्न प्रांतों में यह त्यौहार कैसे मनाया जाता है।
wp.me/pSoc-2eh
wp.me/pSoc-2eh
दशहरे का त्यौहार: भारत की सांस्कृतिक एकता
भारत के विभिन्न राज्यों में विजयादशमी कैसे मनाई जाती है?
wp.me
October 2, 2025 at 9:11 AM
विजयादशमी की शुभकामनाएँ। आज पढ़िए विजयादशमी (दशहरा) पर यह लेख जिसमें बताया गया है कि भारत के विभिन्न प्रांतों में यह त्यौहार कैसे मनाया जाता है।
wp.me/pSoc-2eh
wp.me/pSoc-2eh
Sprouted coconut is called नारियल का फूल nāriyal kā phūl in Hindi and her sister languages. Intrestingly, this seems like a calque (loan-translation) of Tamil tēṅkāyppū தேங்காய்ப்பூ (coconut flower).
October 1, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Sprouted coconut is called नारियल का फूल nāriyal kā phūl in Hindi and her sister languages. Intrestingly, this seems like a calque (loan-translation) of Tamil tēṅkāyppū தேங்காய்ப்பூ (coconut flower).
Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus) is a type of lizardfish popular along the western coast of India, where it is also known as bombil in Marathi and Konkani. It is not a bird but a fish. There are various speculations about the etymology of its English name. Read further-
avtans.com/2025/10/01/u...
avtans.com/2025/10/01/u...
Untangling the etymology of Bombay Duck
Etymology of Bombay duck aka Bombil. It is not a bird but a fish!
avtans.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus) is a type of lizardfish popular along the western coast of India, where it is also known as bombil in Marathi and Konkani. It is not a bird but a fish. There are various speculations about the etymology of its English name. Read further-
avtans.com/2025/10/01/u...
avtans.com/2025/10/01/u...
Reposted by Abhishek Avtans अभिषेक अवतंस
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢?
@avtansa.bsky.social (@unileiden.bsky.social) explains @himalmag.bsky.social how 19th century tea cultivation shaped culture and language in South India & Sri Lanka.
@studieverenigingtwist.nl
@avtansa.bsky.social (@unileiden.bsky.social) explains @himalmag.bsky.social how 19th century tea cultivation shaped culture and language in South India & Sri Lanka.
@studieverenigingtwist.nl
Languages and labour on tea estates in South India and Sri Lanka
Languages and labour on tea estates in South India and Sri Lanka: Part 2
www.himalmag.com
September 5, 2025 at 12:24 PM
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘢?
@avtansa.bsky.social (@unileiden.bsky.social) explains @himalmag.bsky.social how 19th century tea cultivation shaped culture and language in South India & Sri Lanka.
@studieverenigingtwist.nl
@avtansa.bsky.social (@unileiden.bsky.social) explains @himalmag.bsky.social how 19th century tea cultivation shaped culture and language in South India & Sri Lanka.
@studieverenigingtwist.nl
Rules of Kānwar Yatrā काँवड़ यात्रा (from the book - bol bam bhajanāvalī, 1988)
July 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Rules of Kānwar Yatrā काँवड़ यात्रा (from the book - bol bam bhajanāvalī, 1988)
A unique letter published in August 1933 in Chand Magazine (Hindi). Edited by Navjādiklāl Srivastava, Chand magazine was published from Allahabad (now known as (Prayagraj). The letter was written by a sex-worker from Bihar.
July 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
A unique letter published in August 1933 in Chand Magazine (Hindi). Edited by Navjādiklāl Srivastava, Chand magazine was published from Allahabad (now known as (Prayagraj). The letter was written by a sex-worker from Bihar.
What is the relationship between a fungus and Indian tea drinking?
In 1870s, Ceylon was the world's biggest producer of coffee. But in the late 19th century, coffee plantations first in Ceylon & then in mainland India were swept by a fungal epidemic caused by Hemileia vastatrix.1/n
In 1870s, Ceylon was the world's biggest producer of coffee. But in the late 19th century, coffee plantations first in Ceylon & then in mainland India were swept by a fungal epidemic caused by Hemileia vastatrix.1/n
July 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
What is the relationship between a fungus and Indian tea drinking?
In 1870s, Ceylon was the world's biggest producer of coffee. But in the late 19th century, coffee plantations first in Ceylon & then in mainland India were swept by a fungal epidemic caused by Hemileia vastatrix.1/n
In 1870s, Ceylon was the world's biggest producer of coffee. But in the late 19th century, coffee plantations first in Ceylon & then in mainland India were swept by a fungal epidemic caused by Hemileia vastatrix.1/n
अश्वत्थामा aśvatthāmā was the son of Drōṇa, and one of Duryodhana’s generals in Mahabharata.
The name aśvatthāmā is defined as अश्वस्येव स्थाम बलं यस्य aśvasyeva sthāma balã yasya [one which has strength like a horse]. The derivation is अश्व + स्था + मनिन् aśva + sthā + manin (one who stands like a horse). 1/n
The name aśvatthāmā is defined as अश्वस्येव स्थाम बलं यस्य aśvasyeva sthāma balã yasya [one which has strength like a horse]. The derivation is अश्व + स्था + मनिन् aśva + sthā + manin (one who stands like a horse). 1/n
February 4, 2025 at 10:54 PM
अश्वत्थामा aśvatthāmā was the son of Drōṇa, and one of Duryodhana’s generals in Mahabharata.
The name aśvatthāmā is defined as अश्वस्येव स्थाम बलं यस्य aśvasyeva sthāma balã yasya [one which has strength like a horse]. The derivation is अश्व + स्था + मनिन् aśva + sthā + manin (one who stands like a horse). 1/n
The name aśvatthāmā is defined as अश्वस्येव स्थाम बलं यस्य aśvasyeva sthāma balã yasya [one which has strength like a horse]. The derivation is अश्व + स्था + मनिन् aśva + sthā + manin (one who stands like a horse). 1/n
Hindi Poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (1908 - 1974) from his anthology रश्मिरथी rashmirthī based on the Hindu epic Mahābharata.
Hindi Text:
वर्षों तक वन में घूम-घूम, बाधा-विघ्नों को चूम-चूम,
सह धूप-घाम, पानी-पत्थर, पाण्डव आये कुछ और निखर।
सौभाग्य न सब दिन सोता है,
देखें, आगे क्या होता है। 1/3
Hindi Text:
वर्षों तक वन में घूम-घूम, बाधा-विघ्नों को चूम-चूम,
सह धूप-घाम, पानी-पत्थर, पाण्डव आये कुछ और निखर।
सौभाग्य न सब दिन सोता है,
देखें, आगे क्या होता है। 1/3
January 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Hindi Poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (1908 - 1974) from his anthology रश्मिरथी rashmirthī based on the Hindu epic Mahābharata.
Hindi Text:
वर्षों तक वन में घूम-घूम, बाधा-विघ्नों को चूम-चूम,
सह धूप-घाम, पानी-पत्थर, पाण्डव आये कुछ और निखर।
सौभाग्य न सब दिन सोता है,
देखें, आगे क्या होता है। 1/3
Hindi Text:
वर्षों तक वन में घूम-घूम, बाधा-विघ्नों को चूम-चूम,
सह धूप-घाम, पानी-पत्थर, पाण्डव आये कुछ और निखर।
सौभाग्य न सब दिन सोता है,
देखें, आगे क्या होता है। 1/3
लीपा-पोती līpā-potī
लीपा-पोती करना līpā-potī karnā is a Hindi idiom which is used in the sense of attempt to stop people finding out the true facts about a situation; to whitewash etc. It is composed of two verbs लीपना līpnā (to smear) & पोतना potnā (to daub, to whitewash).
लीपा-पोती करना līpā-potī karnā is a Hindi idiom which is used in the sense of attempt to stop people finding out the true facts about a situation; to whitewash etc. It is composed of two verbs लीपना līpnā (to smear) & पोतना potnā (to daub, to whitewash).
January 31, 2025 at 1:28 PM
लीपा-पोती līpā-potī
लीपा-पोती करना līpā-potī karnā is a Hindi idiom which is used in the sense of attempt to stop people finding out the true facts about a situation; to whitewash etc. It is composed of two verbs लीपना līpnā (to smear) & पोतना potnā (to daub, to whitewash).
लीपा-पोती करना līpā-potī karnā is a Hindi idiom which is used in the sense of attempt to stop people finding out the true facts about a situation; to whitewash etc. It is composed of two verbs लीपना līpnā (to smear) & पोतना potnā (to daub, to whitewash).
Dhivehi 🇲🇻, Vedda 🇱🇰, Sri Lankan Telugu, Sri Lanka Malay, and Nagpuri of Sundarbans 🇧🇩 : read about the enchanting world of the languages of the islanders 🌊🚣♀️ here
www.himalmag.com/culture/lang...
www.himalmag.com/culture/lang...
Language of the islanders in Southasia: Part 2
This article is part of Dialectical, a Himal series that explores Southasia’s languages, their connections and shared histories.Not many people know that the En
www.himalmag.com
January 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Dhivehi 🇲🇻, Vedda 🇱🇰, Sri Lankan Telugu, Sri Lanka Malay, and Nagpuri of Sundarbans 🇧🇩 : read about the enchanting world of the languages of the islanders 🌊🚣♀️ here
www.himalmag.com/culture/lang...
www.himalmag.com/culture/lang...
Although the discovery of tea in Indian subcontinent in 1823 is attributed to the British major Robert Bruce, it was the Singpho chieftain Beesa Gaum (or “Bisa Gam”), hailing from the village of Beesa in what is now Arunachal Pradesh.
January 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Although the discovery of tea in Indian subcontinent in 1823 is attributed to the British major Robert Bruce, it was the Singpho chieftain Beesa Gaum (or “Bisa Gam”), hailing from the village of Beesa in what is now Arunachal Pradesh.
The word धक्का or धका dhakkā or dhakā in Marathi and ધક્કો ધક્કો (in Gujarati) for a wharf, dock, platform, pier etc. is a Laskari origin word in Indian languages. The word was used by sailors from Mumbai and Surat.
January 26, 2025 at 1:30 AM
The word धक्का or धका dhakkā or dhakā in Marathi and ધક્કો ધક્કો (in Gujarati) for a wharf, dock, platform, pier etc. is a Laskari origin word in Indian languages. The word was used by sailors from Mumbai and Surat.
Found this book lying somewhere. This a Russian translation of a Dutch novel by Leon de Winter. Published this in 1995a and titled Seranade, the book's hero, a modern composer, is quite content with his measured life, in which his mother plays a major role, terminally ill...
January 25, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Found this book lying somewhere. This a Russian translation of a Dutch novel by Leon de Winter. Published this in 1995a and titled Seranade, the book's hero, a modern composer, is quite content with his measured life, in which his mother plays a major role, terminally ill...
Hindi idiom मजबूरी का नाम महात्मा गाँधी majburī kā nām mahātmā Gandhi [literally - helplessness' name is Mahatma Gandhi] is used in the sense of "to make a virtue out of helplessness" or "patience is a poor man's virtue" etc.
This idiom may seem like post-2014 development, but...
This idiom may seem like post-2014 development, but...
January 24, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Hindi idiom मजबूरी का नाम महात्मा गाँधी majburī kā nām mahātmā Gandhi [literally - helplessness' name is Mahatma Gandhi] is used in the sense of "to make a virtue out of helplessness" or "patience is a poor man's virtue" etc.
This idiom may seem like post-2014 development, but...
This idiom may seem like post-2014 development, but...