Latest news with #AbhishekAvtans
Time of India
11 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Why would 'Mysore Pak' upset anyone? That 'Pak' is actually from Sanskrit
Why would 'Mysore Pak' upset anyone? That 'Pak' is actually from Sanskrit Abhishek Avtans Jun 8, 2025, 14:10 IST India has over 424 distinct languages. But this diversity is under strain as language wars start turning bitter Languages can either foster peace and understanding or serve as tools for conflict and division. In India, they are increasingly being weaponised. For instance, amid tensions with Pakistan , some shopkeepers in Jaipur renamed sweets like Mysore Pak and Moti Pak to Mysore Shree and Moti Shree, erroneously assuming the word 'pak' (meaning 'sacred' in Persian) to be of foreign origin. Ironically, in the case of these sweets, 'pak' is rooted in the Sanskrit term 'pakva' (meaning 'cooked'), with cognates in several Indian languages, including Kannada.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Shops in Jaipur rename ‘Pak' sweets to reflect ‘popular sentiments'
Amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, sweet shops in Jaipur have taken an unusual step of renaming popular sweets by dropping the word 'Pak' and replacing it with 'Shri' and 'Bharat'. The move has been seen as a reflection of popular sentiments against India's western neighbour in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. Mysore Pak, made with condensed milk and named after Mysuru in Karnataka, is now Mysore Shri. Similarly, Moti Pak, Aam Pak and Gond Pak have also dropped the 'Pak' in their names and adopted 'Shri' instead. The name of the luxury offering Swarna Bhasma Pak has been changed to Swarna Bhasma Shri. Most of the sweet sellers in Jaipur have made the change, believing that 'Pak' had a connection with Pakistan. Prominent outlets that have joined the rebranding exercise in Rajasthan's capital include Bombay Mishthan Bhandar and Tyohaar Sweets, as well as the sweet shops in the posh localities of Mansarovar, Raja Park and Vishali. According to the shopkeepers, the change has been made after continuous requests from customers who said the word 'Pak' reminded them of Pakistan. In a lighter vein, a social media user commented in a post on Friday (May 23, 2025), saying, 'Our demand is that when we jump into water, the sound should be of 'chhashri' and not 'chhapak'!' Abhishek Avtans, a linguist teaching Indic languages at Leiden University in the Netherlands, questioned the rationale behind the move. 'Who is going to tell them that 'Pak' is from 'paka', a Kannada word which means sweet condiment. It shares the same root as Hindi 'pag' (sugar syrup). The Sanskrit root for both the words is 'pakva' (cooked, ripe, baked) in Sanskrit,' he said in a post on X.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor: Is renaming sweets like Mysore ‘Pak' and Aam ‘Pak' a sweet sentiment of solidarity lost in translation?
In the patriotic afterglow of Operation Sindoor , India's sweeping military retaliation against terror camps across the border, a symbolic storm has been brewing—not on the battlefield, but in sweet shops. In Jaipur, Rajasthan, traditional Indian delicacies such as Moti Pak, Aam Pak, and Gond Pak have suddenly donned new avatars as Moti Shree, Aam Shree, and Gond Shree. The move, intended to disassociate the word 'Pak' from Pakistan, was framed as a sweet tribute to national unity . But linguists and history tell us—this sugary name-change might just be a misplaced dessert decision. Following India's military action under Operation Sindoor, some sweet sellers in Rajasthan renamed classic Indian desserts, replacing 'Pak' with 'Shree'. Operation Sindoor and a Wave of Symbolic Sentiments Launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, Operation Sindoor was India's tri-services military operation targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Named after the sacred red powder that signifies marital commitment and sacrifice in Hindu tradition, the operation struck a deep emotional chord nationwide. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fungo nas unhas: um truque simples reduz facilmente Acabe com os Fungo Undo As the country celebrated its success with firecrackers, slogans, and sweets, some chose to take things a step further—by editing the menu. But renaming beloved confections wasn't merely an emotional impulse. It became a symbol of distancing from all things perceived to carry 'Pak' in their name, even if the connection was historically and linguistically unfounded. 'Pak' Isn't What You Think It Is Enter Abhishek Avtans, a linguist and lecturer in Indic languages, who promptly pointed out that this semantic crusade was rooted in a misunderstanding. His brief yet incisive tweet explained that 'Pak' in Indian sweets has nothing to do with the modern political term 'Pakistan'. In fact, it originates from the Kannada word paka , meaning sweet preparation or syrup, and shares etymological ties with the Sanskrit pakva —meaning cooked, ripe, or baked. You Might Also Like: Operation Sindoor: Meet Colonel Sofiya Quraishi's 'all-rounder' twin sister Shyna Sunsara. She is a model, fashion designer, economist, and environmentalist In Hindi too, related words like paag refer to sugar syrup or stages of sugar caramelization. This culinary heritage runs deep, tracing through centuries of Indian food traditions, long before any geopolitical tensions existed. Abhishek Avtans, a linguist and lecturer in Indic languages explained the origin of word 'Pak' in sweets. Mysore Pak: A Legacy Sweetened by History, Not Politics Perhaps the most iconic bearer of the 'Pak' suffix is Mysore Pak—a treat born in the royal kitchens of Mysore's Amba Vilas Palace. Created by royal chef Kakasura Madappa as an experimental delight of gram flour, ghee, and sugar, the sweet was named on the spot when the king demanded to know what this heavenly creation was called. "Mysore Pak," Madappa replied— pak referring to the syrupy texture of the sweetened base. The king loved it so much he asked Madappa to start a sweet shop, and the rest is culinary legend. Even today, Madappa's descendants carry on the tradition at Guru Sweets in Mysore's Devaraja Market, proudly serving what remains a timeless favorite of the region. When Culture Is Lost in Translation While patriotic sentiments are valid and the desire to honor national sacrifice commendable, we need to be careful while rewriting cultural history in pursuit of political symbolism. Sweets like Mysore Pak are not just desserts; they are edible heritage—part of India's regional linguistic, culinary, and emotional landscape. You Might Also Like: Suniel Shetty drops truth bomb on why actors are silent over Operation Sindoor One word can hold layers of meaning across languages and regions. In the rush to affirm national pride, we risk diluting the very things that make our heritage unique. By renaming a centuries-old sweet based on a misunderstood etymology, we may be creating more confusion than cohesion. As India moves forward with strength and unity, let's ensure our traditions—especially the ones that bring sweetness to our lives—are honored for what they truly represent. You Might Also Like: Operation Sindoor: A powerful nod to Indian women's strength and sacrifice
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Jaipur sweet shops drop ‘Pak' from product names, rename Mysore Pak to Mysore Shree; Indian linguist says ‘Pak means…'
In a curious case of culinary nationalism, sweet shop owners in Jaipur are rebranding traditional Indian sweets that include the word 'Pak', fearing it sounds too similar to 'Pakistan'. In solidarity with Operation Sindoor, the recent military strikes on terror camps across the border, local vendors have started renaming classics like Mysore Pak, Moti Pak, Aam Pak and Gond Pak. The vendors are replacing it with the word 'Shree'. So now, customers will be offered Mysore Shree, Moti Shree, Aam Shree and Gond Shree instead. A post shared by The Whatup (@thewhatup) The move quickly went viral, sparking both ridicule and linguistic corrections online. Linguist and lecturer Abhishek Avtans pointed out the irony of it all. 'Who is going to tell them that pāk in Mysore Pak, Moti Pak, Aam Pak etc. is from pāka, a Kannada word which means 'sweet condiment'… The shared root for both words is Sanskrit pakvá (cooked, ripe, baked),' he wrote on X. Who is going to tell them that पाक pāk in Mysore Pak, Moti Pak, Aam Pak etc. is from pāka ಪಾಕ, a Kannada word which means 'sweet condiment' and it shares the same root as Hindi pāg पाग (sugar syrup)? The shared root for both words is Sanskrit पक्व pakvá (cooked, ripe, baked). — Abhishek Avtans अभिषेक अवतंस 🌐 (@avtansa) May 22, 2025 Social media, predictably, had a field day. One user said, 'So now we gonna call (pakshi) as (shreeshi).' Another wrote, 'The stupidest thing I read today.' A third commented, 'Kya ho raha hai bhai iss desh mein? (What is happening in this country).' One user likened the move to workplace theatrics: 'Me doing something to show my manager I did something (atleast),' and another one said, 'I love reading first world problems disguised as news omg.'
