ஹிந்துஸ்தானி நேசன் - S. அப்துர் ரஜாக்
(Hindustani Nesan by S. Abdur Razakh)

Here is an in-depth, comprehensive review and thematic analysis of the historical language-learning manual "ஹிந்துஸ்தானி நேசன்" (Hindustani Nesan) authored by S. Abdur Razakh (Urdu Munshi). Unlike a fictional novel, this book is a practical, educational guide published in 1953, designed specifically for Tamil speakers to learn spoken Hindustani (a blend of Hindi and Urdu) within just two months. Priced at a mere 8 Annas at the time of its publication, this booklet serves as a fascinating linguistic time capsule, offering us a window into the socio-cultural landscape, commerce, and daily life of South Indians interacting with the broader Indian subcontinent during the post-independence era.

Introduction: The Linguistic Bridge of the 1950s

In the early 1950s, shortly after India's independence, there was a significant push for national integration. Travel, commerce, and communication between the southern states and the rest of India were rapidly expanding. For a native Tamil speaker, navigating the linguistic divide was a daunting task. S. Abdur Razakh, an expert Urdu Munshi (teacher/scholar) from Ayyampet, Tanjore, recognized this crucial need. He authored Hindustani Nesan not as a heavy, grammar-laden academic textbook, but as a highly practical, survival phrasebook.

The author's primary objective, as stated in the introduction, is to enable both the young and the old to quickly grasp conversational Hindustani using purely Tamil script. By bypassing the need to learn the Devanagari or Perso-Arabic scripts, Razakh democratized language learning, making it accessible to the common Tamil merchant, traveler, or student. The book is meticulously structured, moving from fundamental vocabulary and pronunciation guides to highly specific, situational dialogues that a traveler would inevitably encounter.

The Phonetic Challenge: Transliterating Hindustani into Tamil

One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is how the author tackles the inherent limitations of the Tamil alphabet. The Tamil script lacks distinct characters for voiced and aspirated consonants found in Hindustani (such as 'ba', 'bha', 'ga', 'gha', 'za', 'fa', 'kha'). To overcome this, S. Abdur Razakh provides a dedicated phonetic guide at the very beginning of the book, titled "Important Notice" (Mukkiya Gavanippu).

He ingeniously uses existing Tamil letters combined with English alphabet markers to indicate correct pronunciation. For instance:

To pronounce the 'Ba' sound (as in Bombay), he instructs the reader to use the Tamil 'ப' (Pa).
To pronounce the 'Ga' sound (as in Ganga), he instructs the use of 'க' (Ka).
To pronounce the 'Da' sound, he uses 'த' (Tha).
For the 'Ja' sound, he uses 'ச' (Cha).
For complex Perso-Arabic sounds like 'Z', he adds a 'Z' marker next to the Tamil word.
For the 'Fa' sound, he adds an 'F' marker.
For the guttural 'Kh' (Khan) and 'Gh' (Ghyne) sounds, he uses 'H' and 'G' markers respectively.
To indicate a nasal sound (like the Hindi 'Anusvara'), he uses the letter 'Vn' to show a soft, nasal 'n' ending.

This pragmatic transliteration system was highly innovative for its time, allowing Tamil speakers to produce surprisingly accurate Hindustani pronunciations without ever learning a new script.

Part 1: Building the Foundation - Essential Vocabulary

Before throwing the reader into complex conversations, the book builds a solid foundation of essential vocabulary, categorized logically for easy memorization. The author covers a wide array of everyday topics:

Question Words and Conjunctions: The book begins with the absolute basics—Kya (What), Kaun (Who), Kaisa (How), Kyun (Why), Kitna (How much), Kahan (Where), and Kab (When). It also teaches essential prepositions like Aage (Front), Peeche (Behind), Andar (Inside), and Bahar (Outside).

Time, Days, and Directions: Razakh provides terms for navigating time: Aaj (Today), Kal (Tomorrow/Yesterday), Subah (Morning), Raat (Night), and specific days of the week like Itwaar (Sunday), Peer (Monday), and Jumma (Friday). He also includes cardinal directions: Uttar (North), Dakhan (South), Mashriq/Purab (East), and Maghrib/Pachham (West).

Colors, Tastes, and Traits: The reader learns to describe the world around them using words for colors like Safed (White), Kaala (Black), Laal (Red), and Hara (Green). Taste profiles are deeply covered, reflecting the importance of food culture: Meetha (Sweet), Khatta (Sour), Kadwa (Bitter), and Teekha/Tez (Spicy). Physical traits like Mota (Fat), Patla (Thin), Lamba (Tall), and Chhota (Small) are also included.

Culinary Vocabulary: Given that travelers need to eat, a massive section is dedicated to food items. The book lists everything from Gosht (Meat), Machhli (Fish), and Anda (Egg) to vegetarian staples like Chawal (Rice), Roti (Bread), Daal (Lentils), Doodh (Milk), and Makhan (Butter). It even includes a comprehensive list of vegetables commonly found in South India, such as Baingan (Brinjal), Bhindi (Okra), Pyaz (Onion), and Kela (Plantain), ensuring the South Indian traveler knows exactly how to order their preferred meals up North.

Relationships and Numbers: Understanding family dynamics is crucial in Indian society. The book provides translations for Baap (Father), Maa (Mother), Bhai (Brother), Bahen (Sister), Beta (Son), and Beti (Daughter), along with extended relations like Sasur (Father-in-law) and Damaad (Son-in-law). Finally, it provides an exhaustive, phonetic spelling of numbers from 1 to 100, which is absolutely vital for trade, bargaining, and telling time.

Part 2: Situational Dialogues - The Art of Conversation

The true brilliance of Hindustani Nesan lies in its situational dialogues. Razakh anticipates the exact scenarios a Tamil traveler would face and scripts highly realistic, polite, and practical conversations.

Conversing with a Stranger: The book teaches formal introductions. "Aap kaun hain?" (Who are you?), "Main ek musafir hoon" (I am a traveler). It covers asking about one's hometown, profession, and purpose of visit. It teaches the polite "Aapko English maloom hai?" (Do you know English?) and the respectful farewell, "Khuda Hafiz" (May God protect you).

Dealing with Beggars: A very practical, albeit humorous, inclusion is how to handle beggars. It provides phrases like "Ab jao, Seth nahi hain" (Go now, the boss is not here) or "Hamare paas rezgari nahi hai" (I don't have exact change), reflecting the everyday realities of walking through busy Indian streets.

Navigating Travel and Transport: This is arguably the most critical section for a 1950s traveler. The book provides extensive dialogues for the Railway Station. It covers asking for directions: "Yeh rasta kidhar jaata hai?" (Where does this road go?). It details conversations with railway porters, complete with bargaining over luggage fees: "Bara aane bahut zyada hai, kuch kam mango" (12 Annas is too much, ask for less). It also scripts interactions with co-passengers inside the train, asking them to shift and make room politely: "Hamko kuch jagah denge?" (Will you give us some space?).

Conversations with Cart Drivers (Jutka/Tonga): The traveler is taught how to hail a horse cart, instruct the driver to take them to a hotel, and negotiate the fare. When the driver asks for an exorbitant rate, the book provides the perfect haggling response: "Arre jao, hum hamesha aath aane hi dete hain" (Oh go away, we always only pay 8 Annas).

Part 3: Commerce, Dining, and Daily Services

The manual delves deeply into the commercial aspects of travel, ensuring the Tamil speaker is never swindled and can access essential services comfortably.

At the Tea Shop and Restaurant: Food is a central theme. The book scripts a conversation at a tea stall, teaching the reader how to order "Light" tea or ask for hot water to wash the cups. In the restaurant section, the dialogues are incredibly detailed. The traveler learns to ask for Biryani, ordinary meals, Mutton Korma, and Fish Curry. It even includes complaints, such as "Yeh Korma taaza nahi hai, baasi hai" (This Korma is not fresh, it is stale) or "Daal mein namak nahi hai" (There is no salt in the lentils). It concludes with the polite etiquette of dining, such as asking for the bill ("Hisab kitna hua?") and offering betel leaf (Paan) after the meal.

The Fruit Vendor: Bargaining is an art form in India, and Razakh teaches it well. The dialogue with the fruit vendor shows the traveler asking the price of oranges and guavas. When told the price is four for a Rupee, the traveler haggles: "Chhe nahi doge?" (Won't you give six?). The book also teaches how to ask if bananas are ripe or raw ("Kele pakke hain ya kacche?").

The Laundryman (Dhobi): Maintaining clean clothes while traveling is essential. The book provides a rigorous conversation with a laundryman. The traveler lists out the clothes: 4 shirts, 2 half-pants, 3 pajamas, and 1 waistcoat. The traveler sternly warns the Dhobi not to tear the clothes ("Khabardar phatne nahi dena") and complains about the previous wash ("Pichli dhulayi mein mail achhi tarah nahi nikla tha" - The dirt didn't come out well in the last wash). It also covers negotiating extra charges for "Urgent" 3-day delivery versus ordinary 10-day delivery.

The Barber (Hajjam) and The Tailor (Darzi): The grooming section is highly specific. The traveler instructs the barber to cut hair, shave the beard, apply soap, and importantly, complains if the razor is blunt: "Tumhara ustara tez nahi hai, jild par jalan paida karta hai" (Your razor is not sharp, it burns the skin). Similarly, the tailor section covers buying cloth by the yard (Gaz), asking for the coat to be stitched loosely ("Gala bahut tang hai, dheela kar sakte ho?"), and requesting repairs for torn clothes.

The Textile Shop and Meat Market: The book concludes its conversational chapters with extensive shopping dialogues. In the textile shop, the traveler learns to differentiate between local (Desi) and foreign (Vilayati) fabrics, asking for fast colors (Pakka rang) and durable materials. In the butcher's shop, the vocabulary is hyper-specific, teaching the reader how to ask for boneless meat, liver, kidneys, brain, and ensuring the butcher uses the correct weights on the scale.

Part 4: A Fascinating Historical Appendix - The Soviet Connection

Perhaps the most unexpected and historically fascinating element of Hindustani Nesan appears at the very end of the book. Tucked away on the final page is a section titled "Greeting Sounds" (Vaazhthu Oligal). This section provides slogans in Tamil and their exact translations in the Russian language (Cyrillic script).

The slogans translate to:

"Welcome to our friends from the Soviet Union!" (ПРИВЕТСТВУЕМ НАШИХ ДРУЗЕЙ ИЗ СССР!)
"Welcome Bulganin and Khrushchev!" (ПРИВЕТСТВУЕМ БУЛГАНИНА И ХРУЩЕВА!)
"Long live Indo-Soviet Friendship!" (ДА ЗДРАВСТВУЕТ ИНДО-СОВЕТСКАЯ ДРУЖБА!)
"Long live World Peace!" (ДА ЗДРАВСТВУЕТ МИР ВО ВСЕМ МИРЕ!)

The author includes a note stating that these slogans should be painted on banners in both Tamil and Russian. This incredibly specific addition serves as a perfect historical time capsule. In late 1955, Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin and Communist Party Secretary Nikita Khrushchev made a highly publicized, historic state visit to India, which included a massive reception in Madras (Chennai). The publisher likely appended this page to a later edition (or anticipating the visit) to help local Tamil citizens and political workers create welcoming banners for the Soviet leaders. This small detail anchors the book firmly in the geopolitical climate of the 1950s, highlighting the era of the Non-Aligned Movement and the blossoming friendship between newly independent India and the USSR.

Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Practical Pedagogy

"ஹிந்துஸ்தானி நேசன்" (Hindustani Nesan) by S. Abdur Razakh is far more than a mere language primer. It is a meticulously crafted survival manual for the mid-20th century Tamil traveler. By focusing on practical, situational vocabulary rather than dense grammatical rules, Razakh created an incredibly effective pedagogical tool. The book captures the essence of daily Indian life—the haggling at the fruit stall, the negotiations with the stubborn cart driver, the specific requests at the local tailor, and the vibrant culinary landscape of the country.

Today, this 1953 publication stands as a brilliant sociological and linguistic document. It reminds us of an era when mastering a new language was a deeply practical necessity for trade and travel, and it showcases the ingenuity of educators who built linguistic bridges across the diverse, multilingual expanse of the Indian subcontinent.

ஹிந்துஸ்தானி நேசன் - S. அப்துர் ரஜாக் (Hindustani Nesan by S. Abdur Razakh)