Yo Dude! Wazzup?

In the 70's the word mouthed by many at college was 'bugger' and my Pa uses it sometimes till date. In the 90's and at the beginning of this Millennium I noticed that my college-mates used a lot of  'Man' while addressing another. In this decade the 'Dude' seems to rule the roost! Used liberally at the beginning and at the end of each sentence, its very much in vogue.
When a teenage friend of mine called me that, I rebelled, and aghast she goes, " Dude you're so Old World! Chic your language up dude!" I could almost feel a tuft of silver, sprout from mid-ramp at my head and lunge towards my temple. I have got to chic my language and then my wardrobe and ofcourse my hair,  like she has!
  " ...But that's not you! Do you have to act like your classmates do? " I pleaded.
And she rolled her eyes at me and said " Duh?!" 
She wouldn't be caught dead looking like a bhenji!
The irony is that they have to drape a sari and wear a Salwar Kameez to class which she said they shed as soon as possible after class. Before she joined this BIG business school she was quite normal, OK as per my belief but now shes evolved into a cool, no kewl avatar!
"..but doesn't all this spell artificiality?" I continued to argue.
She only kept glaring back at me as if she was about to give up on me!
Another BFF of mine is only at school and she's already this chic thing. Her flicks are streaked a bright red. I'm supposed to call them Bangs!
My school days, we weren't allowed bindis or mehndi or any other such embellishments. Today, its all totally cool with the 'Princi' dude. I'm just hoping the Convent schools are still strict in these matters but then again my expectations are so Old World.

I'm inspired to coin a 2 liner in this situation," dude, dude, dude, dude...
Dude hai wonderful, dekh sakhte hain roz classful dude, dude, dude, dude, dude!" 
I know these are not original lines. I've tweaked the lines from a popular ad' but that's what this age is all about. Isn't it? Original is out, Artificiality is IN!
In an attempt to go with this flow, I've switched over from my straight fit Jeans to the skinny fit! 
First it was the British Raj and now its Amreekanisation.
I can't afford to stay like an 'Abhoriginal', can I?
I cannot deny that there's a positive side to this too. The English taught us to shift from the sari and don the pants. Maybe America will take us from pants to Hot Pants!
Interesting eh?

PS: If this piece has offended anybody's sentiments, its definitely not intentional. I've just taken the liberty of the freedom of expression, dude!

Comments

Karthik said…
She called you 'dude'?? :D lol... That's funny! :P
I completely agree with you. It's all artificial. Even I'm considered as an old school by a few, for I don't go along with the 'conventional' changes of the so-called page 3 attitude. I despise anything that is artificial.
It's not only about dude, or man or bugger, the big change is in using profanities. The more you use, the more chilled out you are! How bloody absurd! Those asses might not be knowing how to use the word 'joie de vivre' but they very well know how to use the f word - as a noun, verb, et al.
Hmmmm.. I support one thing that is americanizing - that of girls wearing hot pants! hehehe.. ;)
Excellent article, Vibhuti. :)
Hello Karthik..
Thanks be to God that there are intelligent people like you who relate to this post. You have made me feel normal again..
I feel theres going to be a war between the British English & the wanna-gonna tribe!
May the worthy win!!
LOL
PS: I knew it that most will nod a vehement yes for the 'Hot Pants' bit..:P
Rumya said…
Lets start with the GOOD NEWS!!
Convent Schools are still as strict as they used to be, at least when I was leaving 2yrs ago.

And yes, though I come from this DUDE Generation, I still support your article. Its all about Being COOL and Being ACCEPTED in the Tribe.

Agree with Karthik too when he puts the point forward about the multiple uses of the F-word in day-to-day talk. I've witnessed it with my friends and it really freaks me. Drove me to the point that I had to tell them to either stop using it around me or stop being my friend.

Count me in as an old-school type from the ultra-mod gen...and an exception to the rest!! And I like it this way!! :)
Oh Rumya,
Just when I was thinking what you'd think about this post you have voiced your opinion.
Am so proud of you.
That you stood your ground and aren't one of those who gives in to peer pressure..You will go a long way, am sure!!!
All the best darl..:)
Manjunath said…
First time visiting your blog came from indiblogger, hey you have a beautiful template very nice and fits very nicely on all resolution it is custom theme or free theme available on net?

between nice blog ;)
Naina Sethi said…
You have a lovely sense of humor ! haha ..excellent article !
lIl hIgH said…
Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it and wiser than the one that comes after it

Felt its a nice quote and a little relevant and thought provoking here. What say ?? :)
The Analyst said…
Excellent post, well I don't know why people find modifying the english language as cool, and totally agree on your views here. With the advent of social networking we are finding that our language standards are further deteriorating.

btw my initial post on blogger was on similiar lines called Mind Your Language, do check that out sometimes.
Rumya said…
Thank-You!! :)
By the way, thanks for renaming followers as CONNOISSEURS. It helped me out when the word co-incidentally turned up in my French Vivas. LOL!! :D Merci Beaucoup!!
@III High: Excellent quote..perfecto!!

@The Analyst: true to your name you have analysed the subject most properly. Am glad you liked the write-up..Will surely be checking ur post!

@Naina: Happy to see that I could make at least some1 laugh with my dry sense of humor!!
Hi Manjunath,
thanks for visiting. Thanks for the complements on my choice of blogger template. You can pick a nice one for yourself for free too..You'll find the link from where I sourced this Denim template at the bottom of my page.
Its a Blogger Template!
Let me know when you have selected a new Avatar for your blog too..:)
Unknown said…
Hi nice post.. I agree ppl are becoming more and more of americans these days and lesser Indians.. strange times...
aayanman said…
he he...enjoyed the post.Such is life...and people actually make you feel ostracized if you do not speak the dude language.
@ Tanmaya: You stand your ground!!

@Gyanban: Im glad you enjoyed the piece. Truly..such is life!..:)
Prateek said…
If the child is confident, s/he will hold his ground. Fashion and acceptability have everything to do with confidence. Originality can never go out of style, you just need to know how to carry yourself with confidence.
Tanmaya said…
Hi nice post.. I agree ppl are becoming more and more of americans these days and lesser Indians.. strange times...
lIl hIgH said…
Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it and wiser than the one that comes after it

Felt its a nice quote and a little relevant and thought provoking here. What say ?? :)
Naina Sethi said…
You have a lovely sense of humor ! haha ..excellent article !

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