Sunday, March 21, 2010

Of 'backsides'

As an Indian, I guess I ought not give a second thought to the usage of 'backside' in everday language without blinking an eye. Let me explain... here, in Mumbai, where I have currently live, 'backside' is used thus:
  • The cafe is located on the backside of that building
  • You will find the ph no on the backside of the book
  • You have to search for it on the backside of the shelf

So on and so forth...

In many of the cities in India that I have lived in or travelled to, I have heard the usage of 'backside' in a similar fashion but not as commonly as in Mumbai.

Even though am no expert in the language, I doubt that the usage is incorrect but it's informal meaning is so commonly known & used that one would hesitate to refer to buildings, books, roads etc as having 'backsides' (i.e. instead of back entrances or behind...).

back·side: noun 1.the rear or back part or view of an object, person, scene, etc.; that part which is opposite the front. 2. (informal) rump; buttocks. (source: www.dictionary.com)

Whatever the reason might be, it does seem that 'backside' has caught the fancy of the locals and is here to stay... offering many amused moments to those who first stumble upon it.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Not my first blog...

In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd. - Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in Don quixote

The absurdity here is my renewed attempt at blogging despite my lack of even the tiniest, itty-bittiest success with my previous one.

I did start a blog once before, sort of a dry run but that's exactly what it turned out to be - a dry run. I had a blog post about once a month. I couldn't, for the life of me, think of the powerful, impactful, earth-shaking topics I always imagined I would write about. I had a few, random visitors (that blogging service had analytics...hmmm) who, mistakenly, am sure, strayed past my blogs, left virtually no comments and never came back. Needless to say, my first blog shut shop in about 6-7 months. This was writer's block even before it started.

Taking inspiration from Don Quixote though, I charge at the windmills and banish the giants in my head that tell me blogging is not for me. Muahahaha... [evil laugh]