Decline of “Khari Boli”

 

 Those who belong to or have lived in Haryana, Delhi or Northwestern UP, understand what “Khari boli” (Haryanavi) dialect of Hindi is all about. Some people say it lacks sophistication and even that it’s rude.

 

The perception of lack of sophistication or being “rude”, is probably because that the words which show respect in Hindi are not part of khari boli, for example , to address someone, “Aap” is non existant, mainly “Tu” is used, and if one wants to give lot of respect “Tum” is used :) .Also, “iye” of sophisticated Hindi is not spoken in “Khari Boli” for example,  to ask some one to sit “ Bathiye” wont be used , only “baith ja” or “Baitho” shall be used. Also, the sentence closing “Hai” of mainstream Hindi is not used in “Khari boli” .The terms most distinct about khari boi are use of “Maka” and “ Nuko”  for “Maine kaha” (I said) and “usne kaha” (he/she said).. Hindi words are spoken differently to give a unique flow to the language, like the word “Anghuthi” (Ring) will be pronounced as “Gunthi”.“Khari Boli” when spoken in it’s original form, is an unbelievably fast accent ..and difference between normal sophisticated Hindi and Khari Boli is just like the difference of spoken English between Indians and westerners.

 

But, of late “Khari Boli” accent is on decline. First of all Delhi lost it, being a major metropolis and capital of the country, and nowadays urban regions of Haryana and northwestern UP are loosing it and is limited to older generations only, and young generation have developed more sophisticated form of Hindi. The reason behind is the general perception even in the native speakers, that “Khari boi” is “rude” way of speaking and is not sophisticated. Nowadays it has become unfashionable to speak it.

 

There have been efforts to sanskritize Khari Boli, but this dilect of Hindi will die if sanskritised, as Sanskrit words doesn’t fit naturally here. Of Course the standard or pure Hindi derives it’s vocabulary from Sanskrit, but Khari Boli is different, and uses basically “Tadhbhav” form of Sanskrit words.

 

But I believe Khari boli is very much alive in the rural area of this region, and some of my relatives (Younger generation too) who live in the villages/small towns of this region, speak it. I personally am very fond of Khari Boli… since my childhood I’ve scene my relatives speaking it, though myself and our parents don’t speak it having lived in urban areas, but my parents can switch gear anytime and start speaking it when with our relatives :) , but myself and my brother (Like other younger generation of urban population of this region ) are not able to speak it, but still we love it.

 

P.S.- In Bollywood, Khari boli is very rare…A recent example i’ve scene in Bollywood is the character of Komal Chautala in the film “Chak de India”, who spoke in Khari boli dilect