How to tame the tangy sharpness of 'gongura'

DOUBLE TESTED

- NANDITA IYER

In classes VI, VII, and VIII, I was a girl guide—part of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. We wore royal blue uniforms, neatly rolled scarves at our necks, and carried a belt with a rope, which we used to learn life-saving knots. But beyond the practical skills, we also spent some of our Guide periods singing songs.

One song that my not-so-sharp memory still recalls is "Rail mein Chanana Chanana hoi re." (You can find several versions of this children's song on YouTube.) It was a playful tune about people from different regions travelling in a train compartment, each bringing a phrase or food characteristic of their culture. For example: "Rail mein baithe do Punjabi—rail me balle balle, balle balle hoi re!"

"Rail mein baithe do Madrasi—rail me idli sambar, idli sambar hoi re!"