Friday, May 18, 2007

We are like this only...

As every other nation whose first language is not English, we too in India still use the language with a lot of pride. Then, we smear all the pride in misspelled words, badly used vocabulary, and literal translations on posters, banners, adverts, back of a truck/auto/cars etc…and be absolutely unapologetic about it.

Somehow, I love it! It can make you smile on your worst days!

En route to the office in Delhi was one of my all-time favorites (albeit a common one)-

CHILD VEAR’ – for Chilled Beer outside a wine shop.

There were more, but they faded away with time and got replaced with some new ones here in b'lore -

There are two hospitals on the way to the office. One is called “Green View Hospital” and the other is “Lake View Hospital”. (??!!)

?? Arent the '___ View' always hotels/restaurants?

Or maybe they were opened long back when they were trying hard to attract some tourists to the ‘city of lakes’!

I mean, its nice and all to think so deeply for your patients etc, but its like selling rooms to the people in the time of sickness. Imagine this -

PatientMy wife is going through labor. I need a private ward… quick!
Receptionist at HospSir, would you like one facing the lake?

OR

IN a room facing the lake, is a woman delivering-

DoctorMa’am, while we take out the baby through C-section, would you like to look at the lake?

Innovative….but …errr….!?? Naah-aah! Its nice in a sorta ‘commercial’ way, which is not really nice I think.

But today a note/warning/(something), painted very carefully in BIG BOLD beautiful letters on the back of an auto, struck a deep chord. I was thinking what it could possibly mean for all the remaining 25 minutes to the office. It said -

FOR MATERNITY FREE

After, 25 minutes of deliberation, I came up with these possible explanations-

  • FOR expectant mothers (MATERNITY), no fare will be charged (FREE)
  • FOR woman who are on their way to the MATERNITY home, no fare will be charged (FREE)
  • FOR women who are barren and can never bear a child (MATERNITY FREE women, basically).

Any other interpretations will be highly appreciated.








9 comments:

Manish Bhandari said...

came up with this in an instant... must say am sharp... hee hee.... so here it goes... the auto driver will help for free in case the expectant mother cant reach the ____ view hospital.... u know traffic jams are bad and indians might be bad at grammar but the intent is good :D

neo said...

this one is a goggly!!! I like the 'dhaba' ones - Tee and Snakes; Brakefast served here :)
All your ___ View buildings must be hotels only - in the hospital-ity sector naa, with special 24 hours emergency services (food round the clock!)

aditya hari said...

it might mean....
The doctors inside are generally very busy but just in case you want to achieve maternity, someone inside is absolutely free

AA said...

The driver might wish to indicate a lack of maternal discrimination. In other words he believes himself to be "freely maternal".

Then again, he might want to declare his support for the freedom of all moms everywhere. ie. he is 'for' 'maternity free' instead of against it.

aditya hari said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
aditya hari said...

a related link.....
http://flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/504101484/in/photostream/

Kunal said...

he he...or if the woman has problems conceiving,the driver is willing to help for free...gross enough?

AA said...

Thanks for dropping by. The 'eggjams' and other things have kept me busy. Blog updated.

Blahsfemmy said...

Hmmm....interesting...only BOYZ speaketh on the subject of 'maternity'!

Thank u!

Much appreciated!

If I ever see the same auto again, I will ask For a Maternity Free ride for y'all. :o)