Indianism

Indianism is a term exclusive to Indian English. I could list few terms that we usually use though we should not be using as per Standard English.

Do the needful

Do the needful is very old-fashioned English, It went out of style decades ago, about the time the British left. This term is outdated all over the world except in India.

Examples:

I have done the needful. – Incorrect
I have done what is necessary or needed. – Correct

Please do the needful. - Incorrect
Please do what is necessary or needed. - Correct

Please do the needful to attend the mentioned training. – Incorrect
Please do what is necessary to attend the meeting. - Correct

My computer's broken. Please do the needful. - Incorrect
My computer is broken. Please look into this. - Correct

I have sent you an email. Read it and do the needful. – Incorrect
I have sent you an email. Read the email and do what is necessary. – Correct

I am very hungry. Please do the needful. - Incorrect
I am very hungry. Please make me a sandwich. – Correct

Kindly revert

In Standard English, Revert means to return to a former state.

Examples:

Kindly revert back to me. - Incorrect
Please reply to me. – Correct

Kindly revert back for any clarification. - Incorrect
Please contact us should you need assistance to proceed from here. – Correct
Please feel free to call us for clarifications. – Correct

Please revert at the earliest. - Incorrect
Please reply at the earliest. – Correct

Reply back

The use of reply back is wrong because it contains a redundancy. The word reply means to say something back. The meaning of the word back is already contained in reply, so there is no need to use them together.

Examples:

Please reply back as soon as possible. - Incorrect
Please reply as soon as possible. – Correct

I’ll reply back to the email. - Incorrect
I will reply to the email. – Correct

Prepone

Prepone is one of a few words that we Indians have created for our own convenience. Apparently, this phrase has become so popular that it’s even been added to a few dictionaries!

Examples:

I have preponed the meeting. - Incorrect
I have rescheduled the meeting to . – Correct

Please do XYZ without fail

Here, Please is a request and without fail is an order.

Examples:

Kindly attend the meeting without fail. – Incorrect
Kindly attend the meeting. Please do not fail me in this. – Correct

Please intimate me

To intimate is a rare verb meaning to inform someone privately.

Examples:

Please intimate me. - Incorrect
Please inform me. – Correct

Do one thing

Do one thing is the direct translation of Ek kaam karo and this usage is incorrect. One thing can be ten things, but it is still one thing.

Examples:

Scenario: My computer keeps getting hung.

Indian Usage: Do one thing. Clear your history. Delete your cookies. Defrag your hard drive. Run a virus check. Restart your computer.

Correct Usage: Do the following:
Clear your history.
Delete your cookies.
Defrag your hard drive.
Run a virus check.
Restart your computer.

Do one thing. Take a left turn there. - Incorrect
You can take a left turn there. – Correct

Let’s do one thing, let’s order both veg and non-veg. - Incorrect
Let’s order Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian. – Correct

Do one thing, set the headline in Times New Roman. - Incorrect
You can set the headline in Times New Roman. – Correct

You have carpal tunnel? Do one thing, adjust your chair higher, put something underneath your feet, and put the keyboard on your lap. - Incorrect
You have carpal tunnel? Adjust your chair higher, put something underneath your feet, and put the keyboard on your lap. – Correct

Note: Carpal tunnel means cramp.

Out of Station

Out of Station is widely used in India which is incorrect.

Examples:

If you lose your card or it stops working and you happen to be out of station, then you cannot apply for a new card. - Incorrect
If you lose your card or it stops working and you happen to be out of town, then you cannot apply for a new card. – Correct

He is out of station. - Incorrect
He is out of town. – Correct

Discuss about

The word discuss means to talk about. There is no need to insert the word about after discuss.

Examples:

What shall we discuss about today? - Incorrect
What shall we discuss today? – Correct

Let’s discuss about the issues. - Incorrect
Let’s discuss the issues. – Correct

Order for

When you order something, you order it, you do not order for it.

Examples:

Ordering for Pizza. - Incorrect
Ordering Pizza. – Correct

I’ll order for Pizza. - Incorrect
I’ll order Pizza. – Correct

How to order for Pizza? - Incorrect
How to order Pizza. – Correct

Can be able to

Both can and able to hold the same meaning.

Examples:

I can be able to do it. - Incorrect
I will be able to do it. – Correct
I can do it. – Correct

You can be able to understand. - Incorrect
You will be able to understand. – Correct
You can understand. – Correct

I can be able to communicate in English with people all over the world. - Incorrect
I am able to communicate in English with people all over the world. – Correct
I will be able to communicate in English with people all over the world. – Correct

Pohe

Rice flakes are used for quick breakfast in every household in India. Every region has a different cuisine and Pohe is the Maharashtrian specialty. I’m not a great cook and I keep hunting simple breakfast recipes and every time I land up preparing Pohe. It’s very easy to prepare and is time saving.

  

Ingredients
2 cups thick Beaten rice/Avalakki/Pohe
1 medium sized onion - Chopped
2 finely chopped Green chilies
10-12 curry leaves
2 tbsp Peanuts (Optional)
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 cup finely chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Lemon
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash and soak the rice flakes in water. Drain all the water, splash some salt over it and keep it aside for 15-20 minutes. Make sure to select the thick rice flakes. Do not use the thin/paper soft rice flakes as it’ll dissolve while you wash the rice flakes.  
2. Heat oil in a kadai, add peanuts and fry them until brown. Remove the peanuts and keep aside.
3. In the same oil, add the mustard seeds. 
4. Wait until the seeds sputter, then add curry leaves, Cumin seeds, Green chilies and Turmeric powder. 
5. Add finely chopped Onion and sauté for some time.
6. Now, add soaked rice flakes and stir gently. 
7. Add salt for taste.
8. Garnish the cooked Pohe with finely chopped Coriander leaves, fried Peanuts, and Lemon.

Snippet on Imagery – just a try!

Watching out through the window on a rainy day…
Oh… the monsoon rains!

As I watch the muddy water flowing through the stream,
The smell of the mud that quivers my senses.
Array of paper boats that flows through the gushing water,
Smiles and Giggles, watching them flow and doom.

The cool breeze of the trees from the woods; wet and dark,
Soft and lush green foliage of this grass, all bowed down.
The vivid hues of wild flowers dancing in the rain,
And the chirping  birds overflow with music.

Oh… the monsoon rains make me feel euphoric and at peace,
My dwelling, this is the place where I belong, where I’m myself.

Transit of Venus - June 06, 2012

Image credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venus_transit_2012_Minneapolis_TLR1.jpg

For the past few days, I've been hearing that there would be a transit of Venus on the Sun. As I woke up this morning, all news channels were telecasting this news and we thought we'll get into the Nehru Planetarium to get a better view and they would have made arrangements like telescopes and glasses to view the Sun.

We reached Nehru Planetarium at around 9:30 in the morning, there were quite a few astronomy enthusiasts crowded near the Telescopes set by the Planetarium. Few of them had bought the Solar Glasses to view the Sun. Few were watching through the Welder's Glass. There were few volunteers too, who were helping set-up the telescope positioning every now and then. Bangalore was a little cloudy this morning so, ofttimes the clouds would cover the Sun.

When I viewed through the telescope, I could see a black spot on the Sun. By then, the spot was moving towards the end of the Sun's arc. I saw through the Welder's glass as well. All I could see is the Sun directly. But I couldn't trace the Venus spot within. Later at 10:00 AM, once again I watched through the Welder's Glass, the person who handed me the glass said, you can see the spot one the left hand side at the 11 o'clock position near to the arc. I could then spot a little mark on the Sun. But it was clearly visible through the telescope.

We then, entered the Planetarium gallery. Apart from the Astronomy information, there was a Projector displaying the Venus Transit and the NASA live telecast of the transit. On another side, there were couple of Volunteers, exhibiting the transit models and explaining the transit process. It was really educative. The guy explained the process in a very simpler way.

It goes this way, as per my understanding: "The Earth and all other planets orbit around the Sun which is the universal truth. It takes 365 days (365.25 days to be precise) for the Earth to orbit round the Sun. Venus too orbits round the Sun. However, Earth orbits the Sun slower than Venus. Which means the Sun, Earth and Venus come in conjunction once in 1 years 6 months. So, why do we not see the Transit or Conjunction from Earth every 1.6 years? It's visible only when Venus, with an orbit inclined by 3.4° relative to the Earth's, usually appears to pass under or over the Sun. This specific conjunction taken place at a peculiar intervals of 8 years (Which was on 8th June 2004), 121 years (to be precise 121.5 years - the current transit), 8 years (Next transit is on December 2117) and 105 years (105.5 which will be on December 2125).

We had a question, when the orbit is divided by two: one segment of the orbit takes 105.5 years and the other segment takes 121.5 years to orbit round the Sun. Since the shape of the Sun is elliptical, the time-frame varies from one segment to the other.

So, the last transit and current transit was important for us, as none of us are sure to make it to 100+ years of life from now. ;)"

Thanks to the volunteer at the Nehru Planetarium for providing us with the above information.