Holy Ganga beds!

One recieved a 'patriotic' forward a while ago - an article from yesterday's Indian Express about an IIM-A* grad who chose to go back to hometown Patna, and sell vegetables. We are so cool/ different/ great now. Unusual choice of careers. Think big. Give something back. Nice.

Not! One doesn't know who's weirder here - the writer or the subject, but they're both trying really hard...

Some gems:

• 'We are perhaps the only country that grows vegetables in the holy Ganga beds.' : Well, that could be because we're the only country that has a 'holy Ganga', could it not?
• 'Our fertile land boasting of rich history with Lord Buddha and Nalanda would only add to the marketing of Bihar vegetable': Land fertility is connected to history is connected to vegetable marketing? I'm sorry... What?
  
• 'A cart comes for Rs 45,000-Rs 50,000': Bombay Hindi-to-English, translated word-for-word. Writer needs English lessons.
• 'brand name “Samriddhi” (progress)': Writer needs Hindi lessons too (Samriddhi means prosperity not progress).
  
• 'a digital weighing machine assuring of correct calculation' : Weighing scales that calculate? Holy ganga beds!

Appalling ideas (one isn't doubting the nobility of the 'Brand Bihar' aim, just that the guy has no clue how to get there) and writing that reminds one of a line in a Penn Masala song -- 'I failed Inglis, but that OK, baby'.

Sigh!


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* IIM-A: Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Bad grammar in an Economist ad!

What is the world coming to?

When one of the world's most renowned publications (and personally, one's favourite for their sheer command of the written word) gets shoddy creative out the door, one can't help but wonder.

One used to collect their ads because of the beauty of the wordplay used therein... and now this!

Try spotting their mistake

(The ad is (c) The Economist , of course! )

What is the opposite of Calligraphy?

Cacography. Or so says Wordnet!

Word Exchange

Claudio, my ever smiling tutor, has decided to begin this word-exchange programme with me.

Basically, once every few days, we will teach each other one new word ... his forte is Italian, and mine is English, of course...

Good fun... considering today's impromptu session clearly didn't stop at dictionary-like explanations...

Given that our past chats have been known to morph into long discussions about everything from India's languages to Hannibal's conquests, this is something one is looking forward to!