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Time of India
08-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Why would 'Mysore Pak' upset anyone? That 'Pak' is actually from Sanskrit
Why would 'Mysore Pak' upset anyone? That 'Pak' is actually from Sanskrit Abhishek Avtans Jun 8, 2025, 14:10 IST India has over 424 distinct languages. But this diversity is under strain as language wars start turning bitter Languages can either foster peace and understanding or serve as tools for conflict and division. In India, they are increasingly being weaponised. For instance, amid tensions with Pakistan , some shopkeepers in Jaipur renamed sweets like Mysore Pak and Moti Pak to Mysore Shree and Moti Shree, erroneously assuming the word 'pak' (meaning 'sacred' in Persian) to be of foreign origin. Ironically, in the case of these sweets, 'pak' is rooted in the Sanskrit term 'pakva' (meaning 'cooked'), with cognates in several Indian languages, including Kannada.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who's afraid of Mysore Pak? The bitter taste of India's language wars
Languages can either foster peace and understanding or serve as tools for conflict and division. In India, they are increasingly being weaponised. For instance, amid tensions with Pakistan, some shopkeepers in Jaipur renamed sweets like Mysore Pak and Moti Pak to Mysore Shree and Moti Shree, erroneously assuming the word 'pak' (meaning 'sacred' in Persian) to be of foreign origin. Ironically, in the case of these sweets, 'pak' is rooted in the Sanskrit term 'pakva' (meaning 'cooked'), with cognates in several Indian languages, including Kannada. On the other end of the country, Hyderabad's Karachi Bakery faced vandalism for using the name of a Pakistani city, despite being founded by a Sindhi Hindu refugee who migrated from Karachi in 1947. Such acts of linguistic intolerance are not isolated but part of a larger pattern where language is being used to fuel differences. Kamal Haasan's remark that Kannada is born out of Tamil sparked a row Words of Arabic origin, such as jihad (spiritual struggle), halala (permissible), talaq (divorce), sharia (Islamic law), and hijab (veil), have been used by political groups to marginalise and discriminate against communities. Conversely, innocuous Sanskrit-derived terms like bhakta (devotee), gobar (cow dung), gaumutra (cow urine), and mandir (temple) are stigmatised by opposing groups to demean and trivialise cultural practices and identities. Jai Shree Ram (Victory to Lord Rama) and Allahu Akbar (God is Great), once expressions of devotion, have been twisted into polarizing war cries. Forget humans, even AI chatbots like X's Grok have been manipulated to abuse and dehumanize people, communities and organisations using the 'unhinged mode' feature. More worrying than the language conflicts on social media is what is playing out on the streets. Skirmishes have been reported in several cities with migrant workers becoming soft targets for these 'language vigilantes'. In a nation where languages are deeply intertwined with cultural identity and pride, these conflicts over language use, words and signage strike at the heart of personal and communal belonging. But why is India's linguistic diversity — it has over 424 distinct languages — under strain? Among the reasons are the continued distrust of multilingualism by central and state govts, inconsistent implementation of the three-language policy, and the push for a 'one-country, one-language' ideology based on a European model of a nation state. Moreover, state govts are implicitly supporting this ideology of linguistic homogenization. A 2024 Kerala govt order mandated exclusive use of Malayalam in public advertisements and notices, prohibiting multilingual signs. Govts in UP, MP, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan have been actively replacing names of villages and cities perceived as Islamic with those reflecting Hindu heritage. In MP, for instance, Mohammadpur Machanai village was changed to Mohanpur, and Hajipur was renamed Hirapur. Critics argue that such renaming erases centuries of coexistence and shared history, while proponents claim it restores a pre-colonial identity. So widespread is linguistic prejudice in India that regional variations of a widely spoken language like Hindi are stigmatised. Hindi speakers from eastern states like Bihar and Jharkhand often face mockery for their distinct accents, word choices, and oral expressions. Their mother tongues, such as Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Angika, are labeled as crude or vulgar. By linking the perceived vulgarity of Bhojpuri films and songs to the language itself, the entire Bhojpuri-speaking community is viewed through a prejudiced lens. Similarly, though Telangana Telugu and coastal Telugu share a common script and a unified cultural history, Telangana Telugu has been treated historically as inferior. In films, Telangana Telugu speakers were frequently portrayed as comical or foolish. These linguistic, cultural, and social differences contributed to the 2014 separation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In fact, there is a competitive race among linguistic groups to claim the antiquity of their languages. A recent flashpoint was actor Kamal Haasan's remark that Kannada was born out of Tamil which sparked a sharp backlash. The Indian govt's 'classical' tag for certain 'dominant languages' — the 2024-25 list included Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali — has also become a coveted badge of prestige. These languages already receive significant budgetary support from both Union and state govts. Such official labels often end up intensifying conflicts and further marginalising resource-scarce minority languages like Tulu, Bhili, Gondi, Santali, Dogri, Angami, Lotha, Mizo, Garo, Khasi, Badaga, Irula etc. Far from being a unifying force, languages have become tools of polarisation in electoral politics. If India is to uphold its democratic ideals, the embrace of multilingualism must be more than symbolic. It must be actively nurtured, through policy, education, and public discourse. Languages are not just a medium of communication; they are the essence of identity, culture, and coexistence. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
From Mysore Pak to ‘Mysore Shree': As some Jaipur confectioneries change names of famous sweets, culinary experts explain what ‘Pak' actually means
In the wake of the recent India-Pakistan tensions, it has been reported that some sweetmeat shops in Rajasthan have renamed sweets like Mysore Pak, Gond Pak, and Moti Pak as Mysore Shree, Gond Shree, and Moti Shree, respectively. According to PTI, the name change is complete in at least three famous confectioneries in Jaipur, which have dropped 'Pak' from the entire range of their traditional sweets and replaced it with 'Shree'. But what does the word 'pak' mean in the names of sweets? Home chef Aishwarya Damodaran told us that pak denotes the consistency of sugar syrup, or means simply a sweet syrup. 'It's from a Sanskrit word. But in Tamil, we also colloquially say paagu for the string consistency that defines whether the sweet is cooked or not,' said Aishwarya. Chef Shipra Khanna concurred and shared that in classical Indian confectionery, the word 'pak' refers to the process of cooking sugar to a particular consistency. According to her, 'Pak' is not just a suffix — it's a signal of perfection in sugar work, in traditional Indian mithai-making. She described it as the heart of many traditional sweets, where the art lies in mastering the sugar syrup's transformation. In the case of Mysore Pak, in which chickpea flour, ghee, and sugar are mixed in a hot pan until the pak stage is reached, it forms a fudge-like texture that's rich and grainy. 'Mysore Pak is a result of careful attention to temperature and timing — too early, and it's undercooked; too late, and it hardens,' said Khanna. Chef Ranveer Brar, who often speaks about the history of culinary ingredients and documents them, added that the word pak comes from the Sanskrit word 'paaka, which comes from the word 'paacha, which essentially means cooking or ripening. Most ancient books, whether it is Paka Darpana, Pak Kala, or Paaka Shastra, all use the word pak. 'The word Pak is only the process of cooking or ripening. The word pakwa in Hindi comes from Paaka, which comes from Paakhi rasoi or the cook's kitchen. Similarly, these sweets, which are pakwans, get their names from Pak,' said Brar. Historian turned chef Osama Jalali wishes 'people knew that pāk in Mysore Pak, Moti Pak, Aam Pak etc. is from pāka, the Kannada word which means 'sweet condiment' and shares the same root as Hindi pag (sugar syrup)'. 'The shared root for both words is Sanskrit pakvá (cooked, ripe, baked),' he said. While the spirit of showcasing national pride is right, changing the names of sweetmeats that have no connection to another country has no meaning, the chefs pointed out.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Mysore Pak to Mysore Shri: Jaipur shops rename sweets, cite nationalism; critics call out linguistic ignorance
JAIPUR: In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, several sweet shop owners in Jaipur have begun replacing the word 'Pak' with 'Shri' while referring to traditional Indian sweets, citing nationalist sentiments and customer discomfort. Sweets such as Moti Pak, Aam Pak, Gond Pak, and the iconic Mysore Pak—long staples in Jaipur's confectioneries—are now being rebranded as Moti Shri, Aam Shri, Gond Shri, and Mysore Shri. The move, which has drawn both support and ridicule on social media, is being seen by some as a symbolic gesture of patriotism to shun any mention of Pakistan - as the use of Pak suggests the hostile neighbour in the imagination of many. According to shopkeepers, the decision was prompted by repeated customer feedback. "People didn't like hearing 'Pak' anymore. They would associate it—jokingly or seriously—with Pakistan, so we decided to change it," said one sweet shop owner from Johari Bazaar. Mohit Jain, who runs a popular sweet shop near the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, echoed the sentiment. "Every day, customers would ask us to change the name. They no longer felt comfortable hearing 'Pak'. So we brainstormed with the team and decided to give the sweets a more Indian identity," he said.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Shops in Jaipur rename ‘Pak' sweets to reflect ‘popular sentiments'
Amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, sweet shops in Jaipur have taken an unusual step of renaming popular sweets by dropping the word 'Pak' and replacing it with 'Shri' and 'Bharat'. The move has been seen as a reflection of popular sentiments against India's western neighbour in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. Mysore Pak, made with condensed milk and named after Mysuru in Karnataka, is now Mysore Shri. Similarly, Moti Pak, Aam Pak and Gond Pak have also dropped the 'Pak' in their names and adopted 'Shri' instead. The name of the luxury offering Swarna Bhasma Pak has been changed to Swarna Bhasma Shri. Most of the sweet sellers in Jaipur have made the change, believing that 'Pak' had a connection with Pakistan. Prominent outlets that have joined the rebranding exercise in Rajasthan's capital include Bombay Mishthan Bhandar and Tyohaar Sweets, as well as the sweet shops in the posh localities of Mansarovar, Raja Park and Vishali. According to the shopkeepers, the change has been made after continuous requests from customers who said the word 'Pak' reminded them of Pakistan. In a lighter vein, a social media user commented in a post on Friday (May 23, 2025), saying, 'Our demand is that when we jump into water, the sound should be of 'chhashri' and not 'chhapak'!' Abhishek Avtans, a linguist teaching Indic languages at Leiden University in the Netherlands, questioned the rationale behind the move. 'Who is going to tell them that 'Pak' is from 'paka', a Kannada word which means sweet condiment. It shares the same root as Hindi 'pag' (sugar syrup). The Sanskrit root for both the words is 'pakva' (cooked, ripe, baked) in Sanskrit,' he said in a post on X.
