At the very outset I like to apologise to my non-Bengali readers for writing a two- worded title that may seem Latin to them. Khela hobe. Translating them into English they roughly mean, let’s play the game.
These two words hold sway in West Bengal right now. Political parties cutting across divide rabble rouse their rank and file with Khela Hobe. Wedding parties go into delirium with the shrilled mouthing of Khela Hobe against DJ-inspired intense rhythmic background. Young students celebrate Saraswati puja at colleges with massive hip-gyrate as music boxes blare out khela hobe.
So what is khela Hobe? Why do they become an all-occasion catch-word?
It really baffles me as I search for an answer.
Are the Bengalees really game for game? If it is the case, a look at the national teams in any sporting discipline points out just the opposite. After Sourav Ganguly, Bengalees find none to talk substantively about.
So what game do the Bengalees go gaga on? How does it manage to catch the imagination of entire populace here in this eastern part of the country?
It might have been the case that the Bengalees take everything in their life as a game right from politics to religious festival. In that sense, Khela hobe is a game-changer.
As I am made to understand, these words were first used by a politician of our neighbouring country who speaks the same language like us. Then the words invaded in massive momentum West Bengal in an unforeseen consequence. Here too, political parties pick up the words and use them to communicate to their rivals the message the way they want to in the poll-bound state.
So it is the connotative meaning that matters, not that of literal one.
People here are swooning over intentional insinuation of something that has nothing to do with trees, flowers, sky, birds, rivers and love, Bengalees traditionally associate themselves with in their rich heritage of poetry and music, but something that has an overt undertone.
It is the nuanced undertone Bengalees are now riveted to. The words from the other side of river Padma finding a tremendous echo here in this side of Ganga reveal how Opar Bangla and Epar Bangla can love to play explicitly in an undertone.
On this very day, which celebrates International mother language day, the reach and power of two Bengali words show that a linguistic power game is really at play.
It is a different ball-game altogether for internationally accepted language English. Its writ is challenged.
Bangla makes a war-cry: Khela Habe.
Let’s hope so.