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LONDON, ENGLAND, July 6, 2004: The world’s best known chronicle of the English language, the Oxford dictionary, now has a stunning new range of Indian words, including the politically charged Hindutva, the colloquial chamcha and the pejorative badmash. Many new words of Indian origin ranging from the mundane to the sublime figure in the 11th edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary to be released on Wednesday. Hindutva, a word that has been groping for the right interpretation though Hindu nationalists call it a way of life, is defined as a “very strong sense of Hindu identity, seeking the creation of a Hindu state.” Swadeshi is defined as manufactured goods made in India from Indian-produced materials. The revered Oxford lexicon also defines chamcha, the commonly used word to describe hangers on, as an obsequious person. What is little known is that the word originated from the Bengali and Hindi chamra and cham for skin or hide. Desi (also deshi) is described in its various connotations — local, indigenous, derogatorily rustic or unsophisticated and unadulterated or pure. It may not have anything to do with Indian spirituality being in vogue, but the words bhagwan (god) and devi (goddess) now join the list along with sadhu and guru that have been in popular use for some time. For more words added to the dictionary, click “source” above. Badmash is a dishonest or unprincipled man.

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