More than 700 Hindi and Sanskrit words have finally wriggled their way in to the Oxford! Indian words have started commanding a presence from a simple ‘curry’ in the kitchen to the ‘sahib’s’ lavish ‘bungalow.

The Oxford dictionary, ceremoniously notes all the Indian words absorbed into the English vocabulary each year. Some of the surprising (shampoo!) and not so surprising (jungle) ones are:

1. Philosophical and Spiritual terms

• Dharma – moral law.
• Guru – a teacher, guide or mentor
• Nirvana – a state of perfect happiness.

2. Social and Religious terms

• Juggernaut – an overwhelming force that crushes everything in its path.
• Pundit – a learned person.

3. Terms of Fashion

• Bandana – a large, handkerchief brightly coloured.
• Bindi – a dot marked on the forehead by Hindu wives.
• Bangle – a rigid bracelet or anklet.
• Dhoti – a loincloth worn by Hindu men in India.
• Jodhpurs – long riding breeches.
• Cummerbund – waist binding

4. Culinary Terms

• Curry – a spicy dish.
• Basmati – a type of rice.
• Ghee – clarified butter.
• Chutney – a side dish for food.

5. Others

• Bungalow – a small house.
• Loot – stolen goods.
• Chit – a note or letter.
• The Hindu
• Cheetah – long legged, African or South West Asian wild cat that can run at tremendous speed.
• Jungle – a wild tangled mass
• Shampoo – liquid or cream to wash the hair

The latest entrants are words like bhagwan – god, bhakti – devotion, bhajan-devotional song, adda-hang out, parishad-council, dicky (car boot), videshi- foreign, deshi-native. The even more recen ones are words that even an Indian would be surprised to see in the Thesaurus. I definitely was. These are colloquial words like bindaas – carefree and Hinglish – mixture of Hindi and English. Words like Hindutva and Swadeshi with political connotations have also been introduced in everyday English. Whether the Raj likes it or not but more Hindi words are being utilized in every day English lingo than the Queen could have ever thought. Ironic indeed!