Today I was watching Hasb-e-Haal, and during the discussion 'Azeezi' used the word 'jhoonga'. As most of the audiences had no idea about this words so he explained with his childhood experience that after purchasing something from the shop he used to spread his hand and used to ask the shopkeeper 'jhoonga?'.
It reminded me of my childhood too, and at the same time told me that I am also as old as to be included in 'old' generation.
Jhoonga جھنگا ، جھونگا یا چوہنگا is a widely used word like
"یہ حکومت ہمیں جھونگے میں نہیں ملی، " (jhoonga in the meaning of cheap or easy) .x. "سیلاب متاثرین کی امداد جھونگا ہی ثابت هوئی" (jhoonga in the meaning of less or meagre) . The word triggered a thought in my mind; about our national mindset; giving some explanation to unexplained type of behaviour that we as a Nation and as an individual are exhibiting in our personal as well as professional life. Let me explain what I want to say:
The young boy is representative of the family whom his house-folks trust and give him money to buy the household stuff, which he would be using himself too.
The shopkeeper knows that if he make this boy happy, he would always come to his shop, so he gives 'jhoonga' happily, even [apparently] at some cost.
The [stupid or may be oversmart] boy would be ready to buy at comparatively higher price just to get a better 'jhoonga'.
I remember the types of jhoongas:
- A piece of Batasha or Tangree (بتاشہ یا ٹانگری ) dont ask me to explain what it is, ask your father or mother.
- A small biscuit (which was priced one paisa at my time)
- Sweet aniseed, just a pinch-full.
- Cashback (one or two paisa).
above examples are good only for kids under 11-12, as one grows older the forms of jhoonga change as:
- offering a priority service, putting aside the current customer.
- satisfying the ego by saying 'malik sahib', 'mian sahib', 'khan sahib' etc.
- offering a seat to sit.
- offering free sample to taste (specially for fruits)
- offering a glass of water or [stretching all the limits] a chilling cocoa cola.
What the shopkeeper achieves:
- a permanent customer, who never complains.
- selling his product at high price.
- handing you over the rotten/expired stuff as you are too busy in tasting the free sample or sipping the cocoa cola.
Are we a Jhoonga hungry Nation?
- Our servant buys the things at much higher price (for his jhoonga)
- While making deals with contractors (in official capacity) we are more focussed towards jhoonga than the actual product.
- While voting we are doing the 'namak halali نمک حلالی' with the Baryani plate.
- While approving policies in assemblies, we are interested in jhoonga of minister-ship, plots or contracts.
- Even the peon demands jhoonga of tea just to tell the boss that you are outside to see him.
There are thousands of examples. But is it what we made Pakistan for? who inculcated the habit of jhoonga in our blood? have we even tried to get rid off this habit? or even identified it as a social disease?
Jhoonga is always a jhoonga; always too less that it can never replace the main potion; one can never bank on it. Moreso jhoonga makes you to beg for it.
Ask for yourself that is there any jhoonga worth the humilition of begging? or worth loss to the main potion (job or inventory)?
Stop taking jhoonga in any form and stand up as a Proud Pakistani
کیونکہ یہ ملک ہمیں جھونگے میں نہیں ملا، اس کے لیے ہمارے بزرگوں کا خوں بہا ہے'
for part 2:
http://pakistancomeback.blogspot.com/2011/10/jhoonga-part-2.html
It reminded me of my childhood too, and at the same time told me that I am also as old as to be included in 'old' generation.
Jhoonga جھنگا ، جھونگا یا چوہنگا is a widely used word like
"یہ حکومت ہمیں جھونگے میں نہیں ملی، " (jhoonga in the meaning of cheap or easy) .x. "سیلاب متاثرین کی امداد جھونگا ہی ثابت هوئی" (jhoonga in the meaning of less or meagre) . The word triggered a thought in my mind; about our national mindset; giving some explanation to unexplained type of behaviour that we as a Nation and as an individual are exhibiting in our personal as well as professional life. Let me explain what I want to say:
The young boy is representative of the family whom his house-folks trust and give him money to buy the household stuff, which he would be using himself too.
The shopkeeper knows that if he make this boy happy, he would always come to his shop, so he gives 'jhoonga' happily, even [apparently] at some cost.
The [stupid or may be oversmart] boy would be ready to buy at comparatively higher price just to get a better 'jhoonga'.
I remember the types of jhoongas:
- A piece of Batasha or Tangree (بتاشہ یا ٹانگری ) dont ask me to explain what it is, ask your father or mother.
- A small biscuit (which was priced one paisa at my time)
- Sweet aniseed, just a pinch-full.
- Cashback (one or two paisa).
above examples are good only for kids under 11-12, as one grows older the forms of jhoonga change as:
- offering a priority service, putting aside the current customer.
- satisfying the ego by saying 'malik sahib', 'mian sahib', 'khan sahib' etc.
- offering a seat to sit.
- offering free sample to taste (specially for fruits)
- offering a glass of water or [stretching all the limits] a chilling cocoa cola.
What the shopkeeper achieves:
- a permanent customer, who never complains.
- selling his product at high price.
- handing you over the rotten/expired stuff as you are too busy in tasting the free sample or sipping the cocoa cola.
Are we a Jhoonga hungry Nation?
- Our servant buys the things at much higher price (for his jhoonga)
- While making deals with contractors (in official capacity) we are more focussed towards jhoonga than the actual product.
- While voting we are doing the 'namak halali نمک حلالی' with the Baryani plate.
- While approving policies in assemblies, we are interested in jhoonga of minister-ship, plots or contracts.
- Even the peon demands jhoonga of tea just to tell the boss that you are outside to see him.
There are thousands of examples. But is it what we made Pakistan for? who inculcated the habit of jhoonga in our blood? have we even tried to get rid off this habit? or even identified it as a social disease?
Jhoonga is always a jhoonga; always too less that it can never replace the main potion; one can never bank on it. Moreso jhoonga makes you to beg for it.
Ask for yourself that is there any jhoonga worth the humilition of begging? or worth loss to the main potion (job or inventory)?
Stop taking jhoonga in any form and stand up as a Proud Pakistani
کیونکہ یہ ملک ہمیں جھونگے میں نہیں ملا، اس کے لیے ہمارے بزرگوں کا خوں بہا ہے'
for part 2:
http://pakistancomeback.blogspot.com/2011/10/jhoonga-part-2.html
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