Ji strings

So there. We?re at it again. Doing what we do best ? being ever so polite. Can?t blame it, we are large-hearted Dilliwalas and this is our way of conveying that we care.

'Helloji.'
"Ji?"
"Vikas is not at home ji, can I take a message?"
"Okji"

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So there. We’re at it again. Doing what we do best — being ever so polite. Can’t blame it, we are large-hearted Dilliwalas and this is our way of conveying that we care. With you, for you, always ji. Ji haan, always — at least till the time you don’t park your car in front of my house or manage to receive an electricity bill less than mine or get elected as the RWA’s president.

Ji’s umbilical cord with Delhi is history now. Delhi is the city of nawabi nazakat and Punjabi puttars. Marry them both and you get a cultural mocktail so heady and robust that it will make you spin days after you’ve had a taste of it. Ji is amazingly versatile; it is a sign of reverence as in papaji, bhraji (brother), momji (strictly for mothers-in-law!)

Ji has a life of its own. It has stand-alone importance. It can be used both to start or end a conversation, as a question or as a reply, affirmation or exclamation. For varied uses of ji, please read the following:

“Kudida rishta ho gaya ji?” (Have you fixed a match for your daughter?)
“Ji.” (Yes)
“Ji?”(Really?)
“Wahji wah, phir te party-sharty ho jaye!” (Great! Let’s have a party then!)

Now you know that North India’s most popular suffix can be used as just about anything — just like the ubiquitous garam masala, it can pep up and flavour any conversation and build camaraderie.

Since half-baked knowledge is dangerous, let me give you the complete gyaan on ji. Beware, ji is often used as a weapon by some self-important blokes who are ruffled at the slightest query about themselves and reply with a condescending ji.

But one will have to admit that ji as a sign of reverence has a pan-Indian appeal. Years ago, at a film awards function, starlet Madhoo (of Roja fame) had to invite veteran actress Tanuja on stage. This she did but without the mandatory ji. And can you believe it, despite the repeated calls to come up, Tanuja did not oblige. She took offence ji.

So be prepared to pull the ji-strings more often. And this time, even the moral police won’t mind!