Author Archives: Nisha Malhotra

Dhoop Chaun

Nationality: Indian
Age: 52
Occupation: CPA
Residence: Glendale, CA
Performance Date: 4/25/17
Primary Language: English
Language: Hindi, Punjabi

“Dhoop Chaun.”

Dhoop Chaun is a phrase that literally translates to “sun shade.” My father said, “My grandfather used to say, ‘Dhoop chaun’ and it means ‘sun shade’ and represents light and dark and ups and downs in your life. It’s like sometimes it’s up ands sometimes it’s down, there are challenges, opportunities, there’s joyfulness, sadness, life is a mixed bag. My Nana Gi told me that.”

Nana Gi in Punjabi is your maternal grandfather, so my father’s mother’s father used to tell my dad this phrase when he was very young. He was trying to instill in my dad from a young age that life is not all happiness and sadness, it’s not just black and white. I think it’s a really great phrase that definitely has other translations or meanings in different countries, because I’ve heard variations of this phrase, like “No mud, no lotus.” It represents the same thing, that life is both the sadness and joy, but the good and the bad, and that the two must exist in harmony together.

Om Jai Jagadish Hare

Nationality: Indian
Age: 52
Occupation: CPA
Residence: Glendale, CA
Performance Date: 4/25/17
Primary Language: English
Language: Hindi

Om Jaye Jagdish Hare,

Swami Jaye Jagdish Hare

Bhagt Jano Ke Sankat,

Khshan Mein Dur Kare

Jo Dhaywe Phal Pave,

Dukh Vinshe Man Ka Sukh Sampati Ghar Aave,

Kasht Mite Tan Ka

Maat-Pita Tum Mere,

Sharan Gahun Kiskee Tum Bin Aur Na Duja,

Aas Karun Jiskee

Tum Puran Parmatma,

Tum Antaryami Par-Brahm Parmeshwar,

Tum Sabke Swami

Tum Karuna Ke Saagar,

Tum Palankarta Mein Moorakh Khal Kami,

Mein Sewak Tum Swami,

Kripa Karo Bharta

Tum Ho Ek Agochar,

Sabke Pran Pati Kis Vidhi Milun Dayamay,

Tumko Mein Kumti

Deenbandhu Dukh Harta,

Thakur Tum Mere Apne Hath Badao,

Apni Sharan Lagao,

Dwar Para Tere

Vishay Vikaar Mitao,

Paap Haro Deva Shradha Bhakti Barao,

Santan Ki Sewa

Tan Man Dhan,

Sab Hai Tera Tera Tujhko Arpan,

Kya Lage Mera

 

“Om Jai Jagadish Hare” is a well-known prayer in Indian culture. It is sung often, and most often on celebratory events, like Diwali. My maternal grandmother introduced my brothers and I to this prayer when we were very young. She gave us bells to sing, and it essentially translates to listing god’s praises, asking god to bless us, and offering god foods and gifts. It’s supposed to be a happy prayer, though. Both my maternal and paternal grandmother, however, enforced the idea that this prayer was important for us to learn, and it was interesting to see that this is a prayer that breaches most of the cultures within India. My maternal grandmother speaks Sindhi, and my paternal grandmother speaks Punjabi, which are different dialects in India, but both of them sing the “Om Jai Jagadish Hare” prayer in Hindi, the overarching language, as a unifying prayer. My dad and I were talking about the prayer recently, and he was testing me to see if I remembered the lyrics from my childhood, but I didn’t. It made me upset, because it’s a large part of my childhood, but not something my family personally practices often. He then tried to remember all of it, but it’s a long prayer/song, and he couldn’t either, so we looked up the words together.

Nacho Cheese

Nationality: Indian, Filipino
Age: 29
Occupation: Teacher (Elementary school, Special Needs)
Residence: Orange County, CA
Performance Date: 4/16/17
Primary Language: English

“What do you call cheese that’s not yours? NACHO-cheese!”

My cousin Jasmine often takes care of some of my younger cousins, so she purposefully keeps jokes on hand on her phone that are age-appropriate for the younger generations of our extended family. This is one of the jokes she heard or read somewhere, but it is definitely a joke that has been heard of before; I found it interesting that there was a phase of time when I was in middle school that everyone was saying this joke. It was on popsicle sticks, and bottle caps, and everywhere on the Internet. I found it interesting that she was the only person I interviewed that told a joke I’d heard before. (In fact, she told FOUR jokes I’d heard before). But that showed me how quickly popular culture jokes can spread. And even now, just a few years later, this joke is considered old for being unoriginal and too “punny.” Jasmine told this to our younger cousins, who, ranging from ages 13 to 5, had almost all also heard the joke before, not from her.

Ocean to the Shore

Nationality: Indian, Filipino
Age: 29
Occupation: Teacher (Elementary school, Special needs)
Residence: Orange County, CA
Performance Date: 4/16/17
Primary Language: English

“What did the ocean say to the shore? Nothing, it just waved.”

My cousin Jasmine often takes care of some of my younger cousins, so she purposefully keeps jokes on hand on her phone that are age-appropriate for the younger generations of our extended family. This is one of the jokes she heard or read somewhere, but it is definitely a joke that has been heard of before; I found it interesting that there was a phase of time when I was in middle school that everyone was saying this joke. It was on popsicle sticks, and bottle caps, and everywhere on the Internet. I found it interesting that she was the only person I interviewed that told a joke I’d heard before. (In fact, she told FOUR jokes I’d heard before). But that showed me how quickly popular culture jokes can spread. And even now, just a few years later, this joke is considered old for being unoriginal and too “punny.” Jasmine told this to our younger cousins, who, ranging from ages 13 to 5, had almost all also heard the joke before, not from her.

Interrupting Cow

Nationality: Indian, Filipino
Age: 29
Occupation: Teacher (Elementary school, special needs)
Residence: Orange County, CA
Performance Date: 4/16/17
Primary Language: English

“Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “Interrupting Cow.” “Interrupting–” “MOO.”

My cousin Jasmine often takes care of some of my younger cousins, so she purposefully keeps jokes on hand on her phone that are age-appropriate for the younger generations of our extended family. This is one of the jokes she heard or read somewhere, but it is definitely a joke that has been heard of before; I found it interesting that there was a phase of time when I was in middle school that everyone was saying this joke. It was on popsicle sticks, and bottle caps, and everywhere on the Internet. I found it interesting that she was the only person I interviewed that told a joke I’d heard before. (In fact, she told FOUR jokes I’d heard before). But that showed me how quickly popular culture jokes can spread. And even now, just a few years later, this joke is considered old for being unoriginal and too “punny.” Jasmine told this to our younger cousins, who, ranging from ages 13 to 5, had almost all also heard the joke before, not from her.