Naseer
Ahmad Rather:
Nickname is usually a descriptive name
given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to a person, place or
thing. It is an informal, shortened or a familiar form of a proper name for
someone or something, especially a name by which one is called by his friends
or family based on his proper name or character. In Kashmir, nicknaming is more
prominent. Known across the world for their wit and sense of humour, Kashmiris
often call each other by nicknames. The nicknames often humours are based on
ones character and way of behaving with the people. Nicknaming is also a result
of belonging to a particular caste, tribe, area, job and surely the character.
People are nicknamed in a satirical form and in a state of insulting one
another. In jealousy, anger, sadness, love and joy one is called by a nickname.
Nicknaming is also attributed to
history in Kashmir. Historians have given valid proofs of this tradition of
calling each other by a nickname. However, historians like Mohammad Din Fauq
and others have affiliated nicknaming with the castes, ancestral belongingness,
particular connection with any group or ethnicity or one’s profession. Some
people are nicknamed based on their physique also. For example, one with green
or hazel eyes is commonly nicknamed as ‘Buell’ or someone with lesser height is
nicknamed as ‘Chuteng’ and one with good and tall physique is nicknamed as Hoes
(Elephant), both in love and anger depending upon the situation.
Nicknaming on
the basis of castes has a long history in Kashmir. In some parts of the state,
some castes are accorded a special respect, less respect or a peculiar status
or stigmatization, often resulting in nicknaming a person for his affiliation
with a particular caste or tribe. Nicknaming is also prominent because of belonging
to a particular area. Those living in rural areas as often nicknamed as ‘Greass’ (Villager). Those who live
near forests or on hilly areas are nicknamed as Pahadi or Sarhadi. However,
nicknaming because of a particular profession or job is also much prominent
like:
1. Kral: This is the nickname usually accorded to those people of
Kashmir, whose ancestral occupation was pottery. In ancient times, the Pandits
were employed to collect taxes from ‘Krals’ (potters) and were nick named as
Krals. Kralpur, Kralgund, Kralkhud and Kralyar are some of the localities of
Kashmir whose main occupation is thought to be pottery.
2. Waza: The literal meaning of Waza is
a ‘cook’. The ancestors of this caste are believed to be experts of preparing
different kinds of tasty dishes. There are still a number of small villages in
Kashmir on this name, such as Wazapora. In modern times, this nickname still
continues to carry along with the names of those who are not professional
cooks, but their ancestors were professional cooks.
3. Gooru: A milk man and a cowherd is
called Goor in Kashmiri. Pandits did neither of these jobs However, certain
Pandits were employed as Patwaris to keep the accounts of their cattle heads
and collect the Government taxes from them. In the course of time their
original family names became obscure and were known as Gooru.
4. Wattal: Generally, it is the name
given to those people who perform low acts such as sweeping etc. Mohammad Din
Fauq, a prominent historian of Kashmir in his book ‘Taarekhe Aquami Kashmir’,
notes that during Hindu rule in Kashmir, many people used to sweep the premises
of temples, out of complete devotion and faith. It is then they were nicknamed
as Wattals.
5. Hakim: In earlier times, when
hospitals were not in place, some of the families used to cure different
diseases through homemade medicines from herbs and other medicinal plants and
shrubs. As a matter of fact, it became a family nickname of these families,
even in modern times.
6. Sultan: This nickname is believed to
have emerged from name ‘Koul’. Ancestors of the Koul family are believed to be
employees of Sultan dynasty and the nickname ‘Sultan’ emerged.
7. Akhoon: During the period of Muslim
rule in Kashmir, a teacher was called as Akhoon. The teacher employed at
teaching Arabic and Persian became famous as Akhoon and the nickname emerged.
8. Munshi: In Kashmir, during the rule
of Sikhs, was employed as a cleric. According to Fauq, he was believed to be
the most efficient and witty cleric of Kashmir at that time. Hence, the nickname
given to a cleric emerged and continues to survive with the clerical profession
till date.
In fact, nicknaming has a long
tradition in Kashmir. People enjoy and find it easy, or many a times compatible
to call someone by a nickname. This has continued for ages and seems to
continue for years to come, for people enjoy nicknaming each other in their own
way and style.
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