Very interesting comparative analysis. One similarity between Hobo Diok and Upaai Nai is that both signify a kind of weakness in a person's character in the face of his/her day to day problems. But one can't blame the individual solely for that. Increasing propensity to take the assistance of both the syndromes for a large section of people is probably the outcome of many complex issues plaguing peoples' lives in today's society.
Mayur --- "Roy, Santanu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Raaiz: > > Notun bochhor xubechha. > > Bohu dinor murot kiba eta likhibor mon goicche. > Upaai nai:-) > > Culturally, I see a move from "Hobo Diok" to "Upaai > Nai" as a great sign of progress. Hobo Diok > sympolizes quiet acceptance of all that is, but not > necessarily any understanding of it. The neighbor > walks up to me with a list of problems with the > water supply in the neighborhood and rattles on for > half an hour. I listen silently and with a > meaningful sigh say, hobo diok. The mathematician > walks up to me and harangues me for hours about the > problem of finding solution to elliptical functional > equations, I listen silently and end with a > meaningful sigh, hobo diok. There is no way to > differentiate between these two hobo dioks. No way > to say the first one was a meaningful statement > based on an understanding of the problems and the > second was a way to get rid of a madman in a polite > oxomiya manner. With the passing of time, I perfect > this to an art. I no longer want to understand > problems. I no longer wish to see the world for what > it is. I lose interest in what you try to tell me in > such an animated fashion. It might me about my house > burning up - but I no longer wish to find out. I > stare vacantly and say hobo diok. It works every > time. No one thinks less of me. No one knows I have > long lost consciousness. I blend in perfectly > without knowing what I blend in to. > > Upaai Nai is quite another cup of tea. It implies a > recognition of reality. It implies you understand > exactly what is morally or socially expected of you. > You also understand the exact social and economic > incentives that make it imperative for you to not > live up to that expectation. And you are not running > away from it all. You stand up boldly and look the > other person in the eye - you say, look I know am > supposed to be eating an orange now, that would make > my mommy so happy, but you see - here are the > reasons why I have no incentive to eat an orange, it > would be stupid of me to eat an orange under these > circumstances - it would gravely reduce my personal > welfare - it might even be suicidal - (and I am no > longer ashamed to make this explicit)- I shall, > therefore, suck on my lollipop instead. > Ki korim bhaai, upaai nai. > > Santanu. > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of > Barua25 > Sent: Tue 1/3/2006 9:39 AM > To: Ram Sarangapani; ASSAMNET > Subject: Re: [Assam] Upaai Nai Culture - Sentinel > > Ram: > Thanks. > It seems the Upai Nai culture is a bit more negative > than the typical Hobo Diok Assamese culture. > The following is an example: > Before, Assamese used to say in case of corruption, > Hobo Diok which is if one notice is same as saying > Eibar Xenor Ejat. Or you don't know what the hell > the other party will do. > But in case of Upai Nai, he is as if saying, I will > have to be corrupt because there is Uapai Nai. > Why, because, > Mwr Jwr puri hat palehi, swali bia diboloi ase, > gwtei khone pisa khai xex korile, etia moi ki poisa > nekhai dhormo judhishir hoi thakim ne, mwr Upai Nai, > beya nepaba dei, poisa khaboi lagibo, Joi Ai Oxom. > It shows that the Assamese society is gradualayy > getting into into Upai Nai culture from a Hobo Diok > culture. > Somebody will say it all GOI's fault. > I say > Hobo Diok Kokaidew. > RB > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Ram Sarangapani > To: ASSAMNET > Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 3:12 PM > Subject: [Assam] Upaai Nai Culture - Sentinel > > > Now, here is something from today's Sentinel, The > 'Upaai Nai culture'. Unlike the 'hobo diok culture' > this one indicates that people have just about given > up on getting anything solved. Ain't it great to see > people take things in their stride? > > > > > The Upaai Nai Culture > In this column the other day, we talked about the > "me first" syndrome in our society. Another ugly > aspect is the upaai nai culture prevalent today. > Upaai nai ! One would say so any time, anywhere in > Assam. No way out? It is as if we have already > surrendered our conscience and sense of dignity to > 'uncontrollable' forces. There is no wonder then > that there are so many callous souls here who would > shamelessly say upaai nai when it comes to an issue > as serious as that of illegal Bangladeshi > immigrants! These souls do not want to work because > they feel that all their work is meant for the > illegal work-force. This apart, when it comes to > traffic snarls, they would again say upaai nai. It > is as if we have become so rich as to have any > number of vehicles on the road, and as if our > traffic 'experts' too should have their own share of > upaai nai. As to the concrete jungle that Guwahati > has become, it is again upaai nai. They would have > us believe that the concrete jungle is so natural, > given that there is such urbanization. And when it > comes to random repairing of roads and the drain mud > that floods as every summer, they would still say > upaai nai; after all, the PWD must also have its own > share of upaai nai. All this reflects just one > thing: what a decadent culture we have helped > create! > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > [email protected] > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > [email protected] > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > __________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. 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