- Source: Khalsa bole
Khalsa bole (Gurmukhi: ਖ਼ਾਲਸਈ ਬੋਲੇ or ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਬੋਲੀ; Ḵẖālasa'ī bōlē, Ḵẖālasā bōlī; meaning "words of Khalsa"; alternatively transcribed as Khalsa boli) is a bravado-based language variety developed and spoken by members of the Akali-Nihang sect of Sikhism. It has also been described as a coded language. Sant Singh Sekhon describes the lect as a "grandiloquent patois" that "comprises euphemisms and jargon symbolic of high-spirited confidence and courage".
Names
Other common names for the lect are Gar Gaj Bole (ਗੜਗੱਜ ਬੋਲੇ; meaning "words that thunder"), Nihang Singh de Bole ("words of the Nihang Sikhs"), Nihang Bola ("Nihang speak"), and Khalsa de bole ("words of the Khalsa").
Purpose
The dialect encompasses the Sikh philosophical concept of remaining ever optimistic, known as Chardi kala. The unique dialect serves martial and mental objectives, such as helping the speaker and listeners remain in high-spirits in the face of adversity. It serves as a verbal act of dissent in the face of troubling circumstances.
"There is a great degree of general Sikh ambivalence towards the Nihangs and their deras. There is no real knowledge but through the construction of the Sikh past by ragis and dhadis and others involved in the invention of Sikh tradition, they seem to have made sacrifices for the faith and qaum. One possible consequence of their relative isolation could be the development of coded language. Sekhon (1997: 229) attributes these different meanings of the words as metaphors of optimism and belief in the inevitable achievement of the goal: 'Taking a meal of parched gram of necessity a Nihang would describe himself as eating almonds. Even now onions for Nihangs are silver pieces, rupees on the other hand mere pebbles, and a club the repository of wisdom.’ "
History
= Origin
=Some claim it was invented by Banda Singh Bahadur, the early 18th century Sikh general and martyr.: 120 Sikh scholar, Piara Singh Padam, claims it originated earlier in the 17th century, during the time of the Sikh gurus. The dialect developed during the period of intense persecution of the Sikhs by the Mughal and Durrani empires in the 18th century. During that period, Sikhs vacated for the mountains, jungles, and deserts to escape the genocidal policies enacted against them.
"Guru Gobind Singh would rename some of the smaller or weaker Singhs in the ranks of the Khalsa Army. He would bestow them with lofty titles such as ‘Dharti-Hallaa Singh' (literally, the Earth-shaker). This would not only send fear and doubt deep within the ranks of the enemy soldiers, but encouraged the Singhs in the Khalsa Army to fight heroically with courage and confidence and honour the names given to them by the Guru."Jasbir Singh Sarna claims the language variety evolved during the time-period of Nawab Kapur Singh.
Accord to Sant Singh Sekhon, the Nihangs developed the special vocabulary full of euphemisms and parallels to common words and phrases to complement their martial role and character. The terms were used by Nihangs to "make light of hardships", to describe enemies in a bold and provocative manner, and to belittle/ridicule things of worldly comfort.
= Present-day
=The dialect is still used by some modern Sikhs, especially the Akali-Nihangs. Nihangs still employ Khalsa Bole in their encampments and also when they talk to members of the general public. The Khalsa Bole used by Nihangs today with the public are for the purpose of comedy but also secrecy. The euphemisms used by the Nihangs can be interpreted as derogatory.
Many modern Nihangs are ridiculed for using their dialect. They are often the target for jokes by outsiders. Many of the terms of Khalsa Bole have been forgotten and lost.
Linguistic sources
Khalsa bole sources its vocabulary from "a mixture of Punjabi, Old Hindi, Persian and other dialects used in various regions of India".
List of vocabulary examples
See also
Chardi kala
Punjabi language
Punjabi dialects and languages
Sant Bhasha
Further reading
Padam, Piara Singh (1985). Khalsa Bole ਖਾਲਸਈ ਬੋਲੇ [Khalsa language] (PDF) (in Punjabi).
Bedi, Daljit Singh. Nihang Singha De Khalsai Gadgaj Bole ਨਿਹੰਗ ਸਿੰਘਾਂ ਦੇ ਖਾਲਸਾਈ ਗੜਗੱਜ ਬੋਲੇ [The Khalsa of the Nihang Singhs roared] (in Punjabi).
Singh, Teja (1929). Humour in Sikhism (PDF) (2nd ed.). Amritsar: The Star Book Depot.
